Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40652058›Full record

ArticleDermatology and therapy2025

Prognostic Factors Associated with Clinical Improvement Following Energy-Based Device Treatment in Thai Patients with Atrophic Acne Scars: A Retrospective Study.

Chadakan Yan, Phichayut Phinyo, Yuri Yogya, Mati Chuamanochan, Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dermatology and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Chadakan YanCenter for Clinical Epidemiology and Clinical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Phichayut PhinyoCenter for Clinical Epidemiology and Clinical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. phichayutphinyo@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8543-6254
Yuri YogyaDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia.
Mati ChuamanochanDivision of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Rungsima WanitphakdeedechaDepartment of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. rungsima.wan@mahidol.ac.th.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAcne scarring is a prevalent complication of acne vulgaris, often resulting in significant psychosocial distress. While energy-based devices (EBDs), including fractional laser (FL) and fractional radiofrequency (FRF), are increasingly used for atrophic acne scars, limited data exist on prognostic factors predicting treatment outcomes, particularly in Asian populations. The study aims to identify clinical predictors of graded clinical improvement in patients with atrophic acne scars treated with FL and FRF.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted at a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2012 to 2023. Clinical improvement was assessed using standardized photographic evaluations and categorized into four levels: < 25%, 25-50%, 51-75%, and > 75% improvement. Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were used to determine prognostic factors. Sensitivity analyses were performed to confirm the robustness of the findings.

resultsA total of 397 patients were included, of whom 254 received FL and 143 received FRF treatments. Older age (per 5-year increase) (mOR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.07-1.43), male sex (mOR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.06-1.57), shorter scar duration (per 5 years) (mOR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56-0.97), lower Fitzpatrick skin phototypes, and completion of at least three treatment sessions (mOR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.16-1.53) were independently associated with greater clinical improvement. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these associations.

conclusionsKey clinical factors, including patient age, sex, scar duration, skin phototype, and completion of at least three treatment sessions, significantly influence treatment outcomes with EBDs. These findings support the development of personalized treatment strategies to optimize outcomes, particularly in patients with severe scarring. THE TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: TCTR20240512006.

Indexed as

Asian skinAtrophic acne scarsEnergy-based devicesFractional laserFractional radiofrequencyPrognostic factorsTreatment outcomes

Identifiers

PMID40652058
PMCPMC12354357

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.