Bullous pemphigoid and the associated co-morbidities: A prospective study at a tertiary-care center

Abstract

Background: Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune blistering disorder of the skin. Recent studies have shown that there are various associated co-morbidities existing even before the diagnosis of the condition. Objectives: The aim was to study the association of co-morbidities in bullous pemphigoid at a tertiary-care center. Methodology: This was a hospital-based prospective study of forty cases of bullous pemphigoid conducted over a period of thirty months at a tertiary-care center. Results: The mean age of the participants was 73. There was a male preponderance, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1. Bullous pemphigoid was significantly associated with hypertension in 80% (32) of the patients, followed by diabetes mellitus in 75% (30), cerebrovascular accidents in 35% (14), coronary artery disease in 27.5% (11), depression in 12.5% (5), hypothyroidism in 12.5 % (5), and chronic kidney disease in 5% (2). Conclusion: Screening for co-morbid health conditions is paramount in patients with bullous pemphigoid for an optimal outcome since treatment options have an impact on the control of comorbidities and vice versa. It should be a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management and the improvement of the quality of life, thus reducing the number of hospital visits and medications to reduce the economic burden and morbidity, hence improving the quality of life.