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Clinical evaluation of the computerized Chronic Urticaria‐Specific Quality of Life questionnaire in Korean patients with chronic urticaria
Author(s) -
Ye Y.M.,
Park J.W.,
Kim S.H.,
Choi J.H.,
Hur G.Y.,
Lee H.Y.,
Lee E.H.,
Park H.S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2012.04414.x
Subject(s) - chronic urticaria , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , chronic disease , dermatology , physical therapy , intensive care medicine , nursing
Summary Background. Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common skin disorder that affects the well‐being and quality of life (QOL) of patients. Recently, we developed and validated a questionnaire for measuring QOL in Korean patients with CU, called the Chronic Urticaria‐Specific Quality of Life (CU‐QOL) questionnaire. Aim. To evaluate the clinical significance of a computerized version of the CU‐QOL, in adult patients with CU. Methods. This was a cross‐sectional observational study that enrolled 249 Korean patients with CU from five university hospitals and measured computerized CU‐QOL scores and Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) simultaneously. The internal consistency of the computerized CU‐QOL was analysed using Cronbach α. To identify clinical correlations between the CU‐QOL and patient characteristics, the atopic status and serum autoantibodies, including antinuclear, antithyroglobulin and antimicrosome antibodies, were measured. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify CU‐QOL predictors. Results. Cronbach α was 0.94 for the overall computerized CU‐QOL score. The CU‐QOL scores correlated significantly with the UAS ( r = − 0.49, P < 0.001). Of the factors aggravating CU, delayed pressure, sunlight exposure and emotional stress significantly influenced the overall CU‐QOL scores in the univariate analysis. Multivariate regression models indicated that UAS and emotional stress were significant predictors of the four domains and of the total CU‐QOL scores. Conclusions. The computerized CU‐QOL is a convenient and valid tool for measuring QOL in patients with CU. This study suggests that UAS, dermatographism and emotional stress are strong CU‐QOL predictors in Korean patients with CU.