Initial validation of the product of the signs global assessment and body surface area (SGAxBSA) in atopic dermatitis.

Abstract: Background Current valid instruments that measure the signs of AD in clinical trials may not be suitable for clinical practice due to their complexity. The product of a clinician-derived 5-point signs global assessment and body surface area (SGAxBSA) may represent a simple approach to quickly assess the severity of signs in patients with AD in clinical practice. Objectives Evaluate the basic measurement properties of the SGAxBSA. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients with AD seen in an outpatient dermatology clinic at Oregon Health & Science University from 2015-2018 who had a recorded BSA and SGA. Results We identified 138 patients completing 325 clinic visits. SGAxBSA demonstrated strong and statistically significant (p Limitations The patient cohort was gathered exclusively from a tertiary care clinic setting in the pacific northwest, and lacked ethnic diversity. Conclusions The results from this study suggest that SGAxBSA is a valid and feasible instrument for AD signs in clinical practice.