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Quality of life in patients with toenail onychomycosis
Author(s) -
Milobratović Danica,
Janković Slavenka,
Vukičević Jelica,
Marinković Jelena,
Janković Janko,
Railić Zoran
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/myc.12072
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , nail disease , disease , nail (fastener) , dermatology , nursing , materials science , metallurgy , psoriasis
Summary Onychomycosis is a common, chronic fungal nail infection that can have a significant negative impact on patients' physical and social functioning and emotional well‐being. This study was undertaken to assess health‐related quality of life ( HRQ oL) in patients with toenail onychomycosis. The Onychomycosis QoL questionnaire ( ONYCHO ), as a disease‐specific instrument, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey ( SF ‐36) as a generic instrument, were applied in 140 consecutive patients affected by onychomycosis. Women and patients who were experiencing toenail onychomycosis for more than 2 years were reporting worse disease‐specific HRQ oL. The patients working in blue‐collar occupations and patients with greater involvement of individual nails were more affected by onychomycosis regarding symptoms. The results of this study confirm that although onychomycosis is not a life‐threatening disease, it can significantly reduce patients' QoL.