Out-of-pocket costs and time spent on disease management by vitiligo patients: a cross-sectional questionnaire study in German-speaking countries.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

The financial and time-related burden of patients with vitiligo remains insufficiently studied. This study aimed to quantify out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) and time expenditure for vitiligo management and the associated sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors in German-speaking countries.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Adults with self-reported vitiligo were recruited through patient organizations, social media, and dermatology centers and completed a questionnaire assessing OOPC, vitiligo-related time investment, disease severity (SA-VES), quality of life (DLQI), and digital media use. Group comparisons and multivariable linear regression models were used to identify factors influencing OOPC and time expenditure.

RESULTS

Of the 173 participants included, mean annual OOPC was €704 (SD €1,284). The most frequently reported expenses were sunscreen (89.6 %), camouflage products (54.3 %), moisturizers (49.7 %), and dietary supplements (48.0 %). Higher OOPC was associated with higher DLQI scores (p < 0.001) and digital media use for alternative treatments (p = 0.002). Mean daily time on disease-related care was 15.8 minutes (SD 20.9), independently associated with higher DLQI (p < 0.001), female sex (p < 0.001), higher education (p = 0.006), and vitiligo-related Instagram use (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitiligo imposes a substantial financial and time burden, both of which are closely associated with impaired quality of life, underscoring the importance of routine DLQI assessment.