Determining the Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index of Skin of Color (SOC) Patients With Vitiligo: A South Asian Perspective.

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo has a special significance to the skin of colour (SOC) population because depigmentation is more obvious in the SOC population. As a result, vitiligo exerts a huge stigma on the affected individuals. The literature so far has reported on the health-related quality of life (QOL), including the dermatology life quality index (DLQI), and has demonstrated the profound effect of vitiligo on a patient's QOL. Those affected by vitiligo are found to have lower self-esteem when compared to the non-affected individuals. The impact on the SOC population is even graver and underrepresented. Thus, the objective of this study was to report the mean DLQI in vitiligo in SOC individuals.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary healthcare setup in Rawalpindi Pakistan. A total of 113 patients suffering from vitiligo, aged 15 to 65 years, both male and female, were included in the study. In all the cases, the DLQI score was noted.

RESULTS

With the age ranging from 15 to 65 years and a mean age of 34.96 ± 9.59 years, 70% (n=77) of the patients were between 15 to 40 years of age. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.3, with male patients comprising 38.21% (n=47) and females being 61.79% (n=66). The mean DLQI score of the vitiligo patients in our cohort was 9.39 ± 6.35.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that the mean DLQI score was higher in female patients and in vitiligo universalis patients, compared to other variants of vitiligo. The SOC population affected with vitiligo is at a higher risk of having a decreased QOL and hence may need special attention with regard to quality health delivery services.