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Health‐related quality of life in morphoea
Author(s) -
Klimas N.K.,
Shedd A.D.,
Bernstein I.H.,
Jacobe H.
Publication year - 2015
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.13572
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , cohort , comorbidity , young adult , cross sectional study , vitiligo , cohort study , connective tissue disease , morphea , scleroderma (fungus) , disease , population , health related quality of life , physical therapy , dermatology , pathology , autoimmune disease , biopsy , nursing , environmental health , inoculation
Summary Background Little is known about the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with morphoea, and previous studies have yielded conflicting results. Objectives To determine the impact of morphoea on HRQoL, and clinical and demographic correlates of HRQoL in adults. Methods This was a cross‐sectional survey ( n = 73) of the Morphea in Adults and Children cohort. Results Morphoea impairs HRQoL in adults. Patients were most impaired by emotional well‐being and concerns that the disease would progress to internal organs. Patients with morphoea had worse skin‐specific HRQoL than those with nonmelanoma skin cancer, vitiligo and alopecia (lowest P < 0·01). Participants had significantly worse global HRQoL scores than the general U.S. population for all subscales (all P < 0·01), with the exception of bodily pain. Comorbidity ( r = 0·35–0·51, all P < 0·01), and symptoms of pruritus ( r = 0·38–0·64, all P < 0·01) and pain ( r = 0·46–0·74, all P < 0·01) were associated with impairment in multiple domains of skin‐specific and global HRQoL. Physician‐based measures of disease severity correlated with patient‐reported HRQoL. Conclusions Patients with morphoea experience a negative impact on HRQoL, particularly if symptoms (pruritus and pain) or concerns regarding internal manifestations are present. Providers should be aware of this when evaluating and treating patients.