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Clinical Epidemiology of Skin Diseases—Part II

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Dermatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 April 2024) | Viewed by 6025

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Dermatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: dermatology; skin; keratinocytes; surgical and procedural dermatology; skin cancer; pruritus; personalized medicine; regenerative medicine; hair follicle; acne
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Dermatology and Venerology, IDI-IRCCS, Dermatological Research Hospital, Rome, Italy
Interests: non-melanoma skin cancer; dermoscopy; skin disease; hidradenitis suppurativa; nicotinamide; skin tumors; dermatology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In February 2021, our Special Issue "Clinical Epidemiology of Skin Diseases" was launched (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm/special_issues/Clinical_Epidemiology_of_Skin_Diseases).  

Skin diseases cause a substantial burden in terms of worldwide morbidity, yet epidemiological data are limited for several cutaneous conditions both at the population and clinical levels. Noncommunicable chronic skin diseases are increasing in prevalence worldwide and are associated with long-term morbidity, impairment, and mortality, thus requiring increased epidemiological surveillance and preventive measures. Skin cancer and aging-related skin disorders are on the rise, requiring increased epidemiological surveillance and interventions. The wide disease spectrum and the heterogeneous terminology and coding of most skin conditions require novel investigative approaches to epidemiological studies. Epidemiological factors influence current and future clinical practices of dermatology, and at the same time, novel preventive diagnostic and therapeutic concepts may alter the epidemiology and burden of skin diseases. This Special Issue, “Clinical Epidemiology of Skin Disease—Part II”, is now open for submissions and is focused on the different epidemiological aspects of mucocutaneous conditions, including descriptive epidemiology, clinical burden, outcome measures, quality of life, cost and utility analysis, care models, preventive, and diagnostic and therapeutic measures across the dermatological disease spectrum.

Due to the enormous success of the first Special Issue, we have decided to move forward with the creation of Part II of the Special Issue, aiming to collecting original works in the process. We are very keen to attract a global audience, welcoming any contributions on this subject from around the world as well as encouraging both solicited and unsolicited submissions.

Dr. Simone Garcovich
Dr. Luca Fania
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • dermatology and trends
  • skin diseases and diagnosis
  • skin diseases and epidemiology
  • skin neoplasms and diagnosis
  • skin neoplasms and epidemiology
  • prevalence
  • mortality trends
  • prevention and control
  • noncommunicable diseases and therapy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 786 KiB  
Article
Psychosocial Consequences of Hand Eczema—A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study
by Adam Zalewski, Piotr K. Krajewski and Jacek C. Szepietowski
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(17), 5741; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12175741 - 3 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1499
Abstract
Background: Hand eczema (HE) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high prevalence, negatively influencing patients’ quality of life (QoL). It may also affect patients’ psychological status. The aim of this study was to assess and characterize the psychological burden of HE, its [...] Read more.
Background: Hand eczema (HE) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high prevalence, negatively influencing patients’ quality of life (QoL). It may also affect patients’ psychological status. The aim of this study was to assess and characterize the psychological burden of HE, its influence on patients’ QoL, and the presence and severity of anxiety and depressive disorders in HE patients. Methods: The study group consisted of 100 adult HE individuals. To assess the severity of the disease, two instruments were used: the Investigator Global Assessment for Chronic Hand Eczema (IGA-CHE) scale and the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI). Assessment of patients’ quality of life (QoL) was obtained with the use of the DLQI tool. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires were employed to assess depression and anxiety, respectively, as well as a modified version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M). Results: The mean DLQI value for the whole group reached 11.62 ± 6.35 points (13.27 ± 6.67 points in females and 9.15 ± 4.95 points in males; p = 0.023). A decrease in QoL correlated positively with the severity of the disease and the severity of itch and pain. In 17 patients (17%), a possible diagnosis of depressive disorder was found. Patients scoring higher results on the PHQ-9 and HADS-M depression (D) questionnaires reported greater intensity of the itch (r = 0.363, p < 0.001, and r = 0.237, p = 0.017, respectively) and the pain (r = 0.445, p < 0.001, and r = 0.287, p = 0.004, respectively). The anxiety disorder might possibly be diagnosed in 25% of patients (n = 25). This study revealed a positive correlation between the severity of the anxiety symptoms, measured with the use of both GAD-7 and HADS-M anxiety (A) tools, and the intensity of the pain (r = 0.248, p = 0.013, and r = 0.342, p = 0.001, respectively). The severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms correlated positively with the severity of the disease. Conclusions: The psychosocial burden of HE is an undeniable phenomenon. The disorder influences patients’ QoL and may cause mental disturbances such as depression and anxiety disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Epidemiology of Skin Diseases—Part II)
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11 pages, 257 KiB  
Article
Self-Perceived Social Support of Patients with Chronic Skin Diseases in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
by Aesha Farheen Siddiqui
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(16), 5406; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12165406 - 20 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1088
Abstract
Background: Chronic skin diseases have been recognised as having a detrimental effect on patients’ social functions. Objectives: To assess the perceived social support in patients with chronic skin disease and its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic skin diseases have been recognised as having a detrimental effect on patients’ social functions. Objectives: To assess the perceived social support in patients with chronic skin disease and its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2019 on patients with skin diseases taking treatment at Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia. Patients of both sexes aged above 18 years undergoing treatment for a skin disease in ACH for more than 3 months (chronic skin disease) were recruited by simple random sampling, and a total of 249 patients returned completed questionnaires. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect relevant information about the background and disease characteristics of the patients and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The software package IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY, USA: IBM Corp., was used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive statistics were used for patient characteristics, and perceived social support was analysed according to specific scoring criteria. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to find out the association of background and disease variables with the perceived social support. Correlation analysis was used to find the relationship of social support with the age of the patient. All associations were considered significant at p < 0.05. Result: The mean age of the study group was 36.52 ± 14.22 years. The majority of the patients were females (71.1%). Atopic dermatitis was the most common skin disease reported, with 22.1% of all patients suffering from it. Mean scores of perceived social support score were low globally (24.97 ± 12.31), as well as in the three dimensions of significant other (7.75 ± 4.14), friends (7.90 ± 4.59), and family support (9.40 ± 5.48). A significant difference in social support was perceived by patients with a disease duration of 3 months to 1 year and those with papulo-squamous skin disease as compared to acne. The presence of skin disease in a second-degree relative indicated a higher level of social support perception and had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.194, p = 0.002) with the age of the patient. Conclusion: Saudi patients with chronic skin disease have low social support. Some important insights into the functioning of social support were suggested by the study finding, which pointed to the significant effect of disease duration, type of disease, and presence of disease in second-degree relatives on the perception of social support in patients with a variety of chronic skin diseases. Qualitative exploratory and prospective research could help in understanding this aspect of psychosocial health in a better way and help to provide solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Epidemiology of Skin Diseases—Part II)

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8 pages, 543 KiB  
Commentary
Females May Have Less Severe Acne, but They Suffer More: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study on Psychosocial Consequences in 104 Consecutive Polish Acne Patients
by Marta Szepietowska, Aleksandra A. Stefaniak, Piotr K. Krajewski and Lukasz Matusiak
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13010004 - 19 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
Acne is a common skin condition affecting both adolescents and adults, and it can profoundly impact patients’ quality of life and mental well-being. This prospective cross-sectional study aims to explore the differences in psychosocial aspects between male and female acne patients in Poland. [...] Read more.
Acne is a common skin condition affecting both adolescents and adults, and it can profoundly impact patients’ quality of life and mental well-being. This prospective cross-sectional study aims to explore the differences in psychosocial aspects between male and female acne patients in Poland. A total of 104 consecutive acne patients were included in this study. Clinical severity, patients’ quality of life, stigmatization levels, and psychiatric disturbances were evaluated using the following instruments: Investigator Global Assessment (IGA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), 6-Item Stigmatization Scale (6-ISS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). This study found that female patients exhibited significantly less severe acne and experienced significantly decreased quality of life and increased levels of stigmatization. Furthermore, anxiety levels among female patients exceeded those observed in their male counterparts. Notably, no disparities in the severity of depression were observed between the two gender groups. Correlations were discerned among all psychosocial parameters in the entire study cohort and in the female subgroup, while such correlations were not uniformly observed among male participants. This study underscores the importance of considering psychosocial aspects and implementing routine measurements in the management of acne to improve patients’ well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Epidemiology of Skin Diseases—Part II)
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24 pages, 758 KiB  
Systematic Review
Bidirectional Association between Lichen Planus and Hepatitis C—An Update Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by María García-Pola, Lucia Rodríguez-Fonseca, Carlota Suárez-Fernández, Raquel Sanjuán-Pardavila, Juan Seoane-Romero and Samuel Rodríguez-López
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(18), 5777; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12185777 - 5 Sep 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1502
Abstract
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic, inflammatory mucocutaneous disorder associated with systemic diseases such as hepatitis C (HCV). The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between LP and HCV bidirectionally through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of [...] Read more.
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic, inflammatory mucocutaneous disorder associated with systemic diseases such as hepatitis C (HCV). The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between LP and HCV bidirectionally through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of studies published was performed in the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Out of 18,491 articles, 192 studies were included. The global prevalence of HCV positive (HCV+) in LP patients registered from 143 studies was 9.42% [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.27–11.58%], and from these, 84 studies showed HCV+ 4-fold more frequent in LP than a control group (OR, 4.48; 95% CI, 3.48–5.77). The global prevalence of LP in patients HCV+ recorded from 49 studies was 7.05% (95% CI, 4.85–9.26%), and from these, 15 registered a 3-fold more LP in HCV (OR, 3.65; 95% CI, 2.14–6.24). HCV+ in LP patients showed great geographic variability (OR, 2.7 to 8.57), and the predominantly cutaneous location was higher (OR, 5.95) than the oral location (OR, 3.49). LP in HCV+ patients was more frequent in the Eastern Mediterranean (OR, 5.51; 95% CI, 1.40–15.57). There is a higher prevalence of HCV+ in LP and vice versa than in the control group, especially in certain geographical areas that should be taken into consideration when doing screening in countries with an upper prevalence of HCV among the general population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Epidemiology of Skin Diseases—Part II)
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