Basic Characteristics and Demographic Data in Patients with Chronic Vulvar Discomfort: A Detailed Analysis of DATRIV Study

Abstract

This study aims to provide a descriptive analysis of the essential characteristics and demographic profiles, including age, weight, height, body mass index, marital status, and educational background in patients with chronic vulvar discomfort. The data were collected from the study DATRIV (Diagnostic Accuracy of Three Rings Vulvoscopy), which included 328 participants divided into four groups: normal vulva, impaired vulvar skin, primary vulvar distress/vulvodynia, and secondary discomfort caused by vulvar dermatoses. The clinical data collected from the study questionnaire were analyzed using statistical software such as StatSoft (Dell, Austin, TX, USA), Statistica 12 (TIBCO®, Palo Alto, CA, USA), and SPSS 20 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). The study was conducted with the approval of the Institutional Review Board of Polyclinic Harni, and all participants provided written informed consent. The findings from the DATRIV study shed light on several important aspects of chronic vulvar discomfort. They offered valuable insights into the demographic and reproductive characteristics of patients with chronic vulvar pain, specifically vulvar dermatosis. The study revealed that patients with vulvar dermatosis tended to be older, with a peak incidence in the 45-65 age range. They also had higher weight and BMI compared to other groups. There was a significant difference in the proportion of patients of reproductive age between the vulvar dermatosis group and other groups. Additionally, the vulvar dermatosis group had higher rates of marriage, births, and abortions and lower educational levels. The study's limitations included lacking patients younger than 16 years. Future research should aim to include a broader age range, including pediatric populations, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of vulvar dermatosis across different age groups. Further investigation is needed to uncover the underlying mechanisms and establish causal relationships, enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and support for individuals affected by vulvar dermatosis.