title: Global burden of skin disease as reflected in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research prioritization should be guided by impact of disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether systematic reviews and protocol topics in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) reflect disease burden, measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 project.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two investigators independently assessed 15 skin conditions in the CDSR for systematic review and protocol representation from November 1, 2013, to December 6, 2013. The 15 skin diseases were matched to their respective DALYs from GBD 2010. An official publication report of all reviews and protocols published by the Cochrane Skin Group (CSG) was also obtained to ensure that no titles were missed. There were no study participants other than the researchers, who worked with databases evaluating CDSR and GBD 2010 skin condition disability data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relationship of CDSR topic coverage (systematic reviews and protocols) with percentage of total 2010 DALYs, 2010 DALY rank, and DALY percentage change from 1990 to 2010 for 15 skin conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 15 skin conditions were represented by at least 1 systematic review in CDSR; 69% of systematic reviews and 67% of protocols by the CSG covered the 15 skin conditions. Comparing the number of reviews/protocols and disability, dermatitis, melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, viral skin diseases, and fungal skin diseases were well matched. Decubitus ulcer, psoriasis, and leprosy demonstrated review/protocol overrepresentation when matched with corresponding DALYs. In comparison, acne vulgaris, bacterial skin diseases, urticaria, pruritus, scabies, cellulitis, and alopecia areata were underrepresented in CDSR when matched with corresponding DALYs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Degree of representation in CDSR is partly correlated with DALY metrics. The number of published reviews/protocols was well matched with disability metrics for 5 of the 15 studied skin diseases, while 3 skin diseases were overrepresented, and 7 were underrepresented. Our results provide high-quality and transparent data to inform future prioritization decisions.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Chante
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karimkhani
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Lindsay N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Boyers
authors.affiliation: Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham King's Meadow Campus, Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.affiliation: Bruyere Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Skin Group, Dermatology Department, Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: Finola M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Delamere
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth University, Plymouth, England.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.affiliation: Institut für Informatik, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Amrapali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaveri
authors.affiliation: International Foundation for Dermatology, London, England.
authors.forename: Roderick J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: Christopher J L
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Editorial Unit, The Cochrane Collaboration, London, England.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Editorial Unit, The Cochrane Collaboration, London, England.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: MacLehose
authors.affiliation: Centre of Evidence-Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: Hywel C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver14Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver15Dermatology Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Me.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*