Quality of life in vitiligo patients and its relation to various variables in Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Abstract EN

Background: Background and aim: Studies, mainly in developed countries, have found a negative impact of the disease on the Quality of Life (QoL).

This was affected by different socio-economic factors and by clinical aspects of the disease.

The aim of the present study is to measure the impact of vitiligo on the QoL among patients and to investigate its relation to socio-demographic and clinical factors, in Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted on 143 patients aged 16 years and above diagnosed to have vitiligo by a consultant dermatologist.

All available patients to the investigator in the outpatient dermatology unit at a tertiary care hospital were asked to participate.

An oral consent was obtained then a short questionnaire was filled for each patient regarding socio-demographic factors and clinical features of the disease.

The QoL was estimated by using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).

Results: The mean age ±SD was 31.

85 ± 10.

39 years of which 76 were males, and 67 were females.

The mean DLQI score was 6.

67 (±4.

81SD).

Only 13.

3% reported no effect of the disease on their QoL while 39.

9 %, 16.

8%, and 30.

1 % of patients reported that the disease has small, moderate and very large negative effect, respectively on their QoL.

There were no significant differences between the mean DLQI scores and gender, job, type and duration of the disease and current treatment status.

The Qol was significantly more negatively affected among younger patients, those with higher education, married women, patient with darker skin type, and patients with hands, arms and feet involvement and those with a negative family history of vitiligo.

Conclusion: The disease has a negative impact on the QoL in the majority of patients.

The dermatologist should put an emphasis on the psychological problems of the disease among their patients during planning their future management course.