Prospective Cross-Sectional Study of Quality of Life of Vitiligo Patients Using a Vitiligo Specific Quality of Life Instrument.

BACKGROUND

Studies on the QOL of Vitiligo patients are few in Nigeria with consequent limited reports of the relationship between QOL and vitiligo. Also, the VitiQoL has not been used in Nigerian studies. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine the QOL of Vitiligo patients using the VitiQoL to determine the socio-demographic and clinical factors which impair QOL and the QOL items affected by vitiligo.

METHODS

This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 29 newly diagnosed vitiligo patients over a one year period at the skin clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital following ethical approval. Patients were clinically evaluated, clinical and socio-demographic characteristics were documented using a questionnaire designed for the study. Quality of life was assessed using two instruments; the VitiQoL and the DQLI. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM version 22 was used for data analysis and p<0.05 was considered significant for all statistical tests.

RESULTS

The mean vitiQoL was 37.4±24.4, the lowest and highest vitiQoL were 0 and 84. QOL was impaired in 96.6% and the severity of impairment was mild, moderate and severe in 27.6%, 24.1% and 44.8% respectively. The items of impairment on the vitiQoL were embarrassment (55.5%), bother (55.2%), frustration (55.2%), people's perception (40.9%), and worry about spread (75.9%).

CONCLUSION

The VitiQOL is a reliable instrument for assessing QOL in vitiligo and the main item impacted is stigmatization. Social and clinical factors are independent of QOL impairment.