[Acne in Cameroon: Quality of life and psychiatric comorbidities]

The impact of acne upon quality of life (QOL) among affected patients had not previously been investigated in Cameroon. The present study therefore sought to assess the QOL of patients with acne and related psychiatric comorbidities in this country.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in three hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon. We included patients diagnosed with acne after a consultation with a dermatologist, and who consented to participate in the study. The ECLA scale was used for the clinical evaluation of acne and the CADI score was used to assess QOL. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires were used for the respective screening of depression and anxiety.

We enrolled 181 patients aged between 13 and 56years. According to the ECLA table, the acne global severity score ranged from 3 to 26 points. Impairment was observed in all patients' QOL, which ranged from 1 to 15 points. We noted 11 cases of depression (6.1%) and 14 cases of anxiety (7.7%). There was a positive and significant correlation between the severity of acne and impairment of patients' QOL (r=0.46; P<0.001). Likewise, the severity of acne and of depression and anxiety scores were positively and significantly correlated with one other: r=0.347 (P<0.001) and r=0.291 (P<0.001), respectively.

Acne negatively impacts the QOL of patients presenting acne in Cameroon and is associated with depression and anxiety, which must therefore be taken into account when treating these patients.