Longitudinal Assessment of Facial Hyperhidrosis Management: Evaluating the Utility and Quality of Life Improvements following Botulinum Toxin Injection

Abstract

Facial hyperhidrosis is a debilitating condition that can severely impact the quality of life. This study aimed to assess the long-term utility of Botulinum toxin type A therapy (BTA) for facial hyperhidrosis and its impact on quality of life over a one-year period. Conducted at the Pius Brinzeu Clinical Emergency Hospital in Timisoara, Romania, this longitudinal observational study involved 77 adult patients with primary facial hyperhidrosis. Participants received two sessions of Botulinum toxin injections (50 U IncoBTX-A each) and were evaluated at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months using the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), WHOQOL-BREF, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and a bespoke survey. The study demonstrated significant reductions in HDSS scores from 3.6 ± 0.5 to 1.2 ± 0.8 post-treatment, sustained at 1.3 ± 0.6 at 12 months (p-value < 0.001). DLQI scores markedly decreased from 24.8 ± 4.2 to 6.2 ± 2.1 post-treatment, stabilizing at 6.5 ± 2.5 at 12 months (p-value < 0.001). Sweat production significantly dropped from 0.75 g ± 0.15 to 0.18 g ± 0.07 per 15 min (p-value < 0.001). WHOQOL-BREF scores improved notably in the mental domain from 66.7 ± 6.1 to 70.8 ± 5.2 at 12 months (p-value < 0.001), with physical and social domains also showing significant improvements. Correlation analysis revealed strong negative correlations between DLQI total score and HDSS (rho = −0.72, p-value < 0.001) and sweat production (rho = −0.68, p-value < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated significant predictors for DLQI total score, including HDSS (B Coefficient = −3.8, p-value < 0.001) and sweat production (B Coefficient = −2.2, p-value < 0.001). BTA therapy significantly improved the quality of life in facial hyperhidrosis patients, with lasting effects on symptom severity, sweat production, and quality of life domains. The correlation and regression analyses further substantiated the treatment’s impact on both physical and psychological aspects. These findings advocate Botulinum toxin as a viable long-term treatment for facial hyperhidrosis.

Impact of Systemic Treatments on Outcomes and Quality of Life in Patients with RAS-Positive Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…Despite advancements in treatment strategies, the impact of systemic therapies and surgery on the outcomes and quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer remains an important area of study focus, based on staging, treatment-resistance, among other influencing factors [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Quality of life, an integral component of cancer care, can be measured by various standardized scales that encompass physical, psychological, and social domains affected by the disease and its treatment [21,22]. Given the aggressive nature of stage IV CRC and the challenges associated with managing RAS-mutant tumors, investigating the outcomes and QoL in this patient population is paramount.…”