Quality of life impairment in children and adults with vitiligo : a cross-sectional study based on dermatology-specific and disease-specific quality of life instruments

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo can negatively affect a patient's quality of life (QoL). A specific questionnaire has been developed and validated in the English language: the vitiligo-specific quality-of-life instrument (VitiQoL). The instrument was translated, culturally adapted and validated into Brazilian Portuguese (VitiQoL-PB). Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the QoL in adult patients through the VitiQoL and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and in pediatric patients through the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) in a sample of patients with vitiligo. Methods: Subjects were selected from a dermatological outpatient clinic and from a private practice in Porto Alegre. The QoL of pediatric patients was evaluated using the CDLQI questionnaire. In adult patients we used the VitiQoL-PB and the DLQI. Results: A strong correlation between the scores of the total VitiQoL and DLQI was observed (r = 0.81; p < 0.001). The factor that most contributed to the final score of VitiQoL was stigma. In our sample, women had higher scores than men (p < 0.05). Psychiatric problems were associated with lower QoL. In the pediatric population, the median score of the CDLQI was 3 (interquartile range 1.3-7.3). There was a statistically significant correlation between the child's age and the CDLQI score (rs = 0.41, p = 0.044). Conclusion: This study confirms that the VitiQoL is easy to administer and adds important information about the impact of vitiligo on a South American population. Stigmatization is very present in the disease. There are groups of patients that are more vulnerable, like women, patients with psychiatric diseases and adolescents.