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Quality of life in Dutch women with lichen sclerosus
Author(s) -
Lansdorp C.A.,
van den Hondel K.E.,
Korfage I.J.,
van Gestel M.J.,
van der Meijden W.I.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.12137
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , lichen sclerosus , rank correlation , visual analogue scale , mann–whitney u test , spearman's rank correlation coefficient , population , health related quality of life , physical therapy , disease , dermatology , statistics , nursing , mathematics , environmental health , machine learning , computer science
Summary Background Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Earlier studies have shown an impaired health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), but more extensive research including generic questionnaires has not been reported. Objectives To investigate, in a cross‐sectional study, the HRQoL of a sample of Dutch women with LS; to compare the resulting HRQoL data with that available from other skin diseases and the general Dutch population; to explore factors that may influence the HRQoL. Methods Female members of the Dutch LS Foundation and Support Group filled out three questionnaires electronically: the Skindex‐29, the SF‐12 and the EQ‐5D visual analogue scale (VAS). We distinguished Skindex‐29 scores into groups with ‘little’ (score 0–24), ‘mild’ (25–31), ‘moderate’ (32–43) and ‘severe’ (44–100) impact on HRQoL. We compared differences using the Mann–Whitney U ‐test and the Kruskal–Wallis test, and correlations using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results A total of 262 women with LS were included. The average diagnostic delay was 4·9 (SD 7·1) years. Patients had a mean total Skindex‐29 score of 38·4 (0–100, SD 17·2). Domain scores for symptoms, emotions and functioning were 46·8 (SD 19·0), 38·2 (SD 20·2) and 33·6 (SD 19·3), respectively. The SF‐12 showed average PCS‐12 (physical component) and MCS‐12 (mental component) scores of 47·7 and 48·5, respectively. For the Dutch population these scores were 49·3 and 52·3. The mean EQ‐5D VAS score was 74·1 (SD 15·4). Conclusions There is a considerable delay in diagnosis for female Dutch patients with LS. The Skindex‐29 domain scores showed a moderately impaired HRQoL. Women with LS reported a lower generic HRQoL than the average female Dutch population.