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. 2025 Aug 21;57(1):2548978. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2025.2548978

Table 1.

The Baseline characteristics and quality assessment of eligible studies.

References Country Study design Study period/duration Total participants, n (LS/non-LS) Male sex, n (%) Mean age, years (SD) Mean BMI (SD) Location of LS Confounders Newcastle-Ottawa scale
Bieber et al. US RC 2015–2017 2168, 2020 (10,004/21,672,016) 0 (0) Total participants: 50.8a NR NR NA Selection: 3, Comparability: 1, Outcome: 3
Cooper et al. UK CC LS group: 2 years 1238 (316/922) 0 (0) LS group: 63a
non-LS group: 62a
NR Vulva NA Selection: 3, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 2
Dulska et al. Poland RC 2020–2021 55 (20/35) 0 (0) LS group: 10 years and 9 monthsa
non-LS group: 10 years and 9 monthsa
NR Vulva, specifically involving the labia minora, clitoral hood and perianal region NA Selection: 3, Comparability: 2, Outcome: 3
Fan et al.
[13]
US CC 2018–2022 3825 (765/3060) 0 (0) LS group: 66.2 (12.5)a
Non-LS group: 66.2 (12.5)a
NR NR Age, race and smoking status Selection: 4, Comparability: 2, Outcome: 3
Goolamali et al. [22] UK CC NR 469 (25/443) 1 (0.21) LS group: 55.2a NR NR NA Selection: 3, Comparability: 1, Outcome: 3
Gulin et al. [14] Sweden RC LS group: 2001–2021 368,248 (5680/362,568) LS: 1802 (31.73)
non-LS: 184,848 (50.98)
LS group: 57b
non-LS group: 40b
NR NR age, sex Selection: 3, Comparability: 0,
Outcome: 3
Halonen et al.
[15]
Finland CC 1998–2016 42,768 (10,692/32,076) 0 (0) LS group: 60.8a
non-LS group: 60.8a
NR NR NA Selection: 4, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 3
Harrington and Dunsmore [29] UK CS 4 years 100 (50/50) NR LS group: 54.9 (17.6)a
non-LS group: NR
NR Vulva, perianal, anogenital and extragenital region NA Selection: 3, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 3
Hieta et al. [27] Finland CS 2004– 2012 5000 (455/4545) 0 (0) LS group: 64.4a
non-LS group: NR
NR NR NA Selection: 4, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 3
Hieta et al. [28] Finland CS 2004–2012 6930 (630/6300) 6930 (100) LS group: 39.2a
non-LS group: NR
NR NR NA Selection: 4, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 3
Higgins and Cruickshank
[26]
UK CC NR 158 (92/66) 0 (0) LS group: 65.0 (58.5, 71.5)b
non-LS group: 46.0 (37.5, 53.0)b
NR Vulva NA Selection: 4, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 2
Hu et al.
[25]
US RC 1996– 2019 1983 (865/1118) 0 (0) LS group: 54.4a (15.7)
non-LS group: 42.9a (16.0)
NR Vulva NA Selection: 3, Comparability: 2,
Outcome: 3
Meyrick Thomas et al.
[24]
UK CS NR 50 (25/25) 50 (100) LS group: 43a
non-LS group: 44a
NR Penis, trunk and limbs NA Selection: 3, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 3
Yen Luu et al.
[23]
US CC 2019–2021 135 (77/58) 0 (0) 71b LS group: 29.8 (8.4)
non-LS group: 24.9 (5.5)
Vulva NA Selection: 4, Comparability: 1,
Outcome: 3

BMI: body mass index; CC: case-control study; CI: confidence interval; CS: cross-sectional study; LS: lichen sclerosus; NA: not available; NR: not reported; PC: prospective cohort study; RC: retrospective cohort study; SD: standard deviation; UK: United Kingdom; US: United States

aThe data is presented in the form available from the study.

bMedian (IQR) is shown instead of mean (SD).