Quality of life in vitiligo: Relationship to clinical severity and demographic data

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo, a common, acquired, idiopathic, depigmenting disorder of the skin and/or mucosae has a profound effect on the patient’s quality of life (QoL). However, its relationship with clinical severity remains equivocal. Aim: To measure the impairment in QoL of patients having vitiligo and correlate it with the severity of the disease. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted on a cohort of 100 consecutive vitiligo patients attending the outpatient department of our tertiary care hospital over a period of 1 year. A physician utilized the vitiligo area severity index to measure the severity of the disease, whereas the patient’s QoL was assessed by using the vitiligo impact scale-22. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were also documented. Spearman’s correlation coefficient, chi-squared, and independent ‘t’ tests were used as appropriate. Results: Our study revealed a highly significant correlation between the extent of vitiligo and impairment in QoL. Patients with early onset of disease, those having previously taken any kind of treatment, unmarried individuals or those with vitiligo involving the face and/or upper extremities had a significantly greater impact on their QoL. Conclusion: The severity of vitiligo, among other factors, is significantly correlated with the impairment in the QoL of its sufferers.