Quality of life and direct cost of illness among vitiligo patients in Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is the most common pigmentary disorder affecting skin melanocytes leading to skin depigmentation. It does not only affect the patients' appearance, but also affects their quality of life, compromising their mental health, social and work lives. Vitiligo has a significant financial impact due to the chronic nature and the long treatment course. Objectives:1. To assess quality of life of vitiligo patients. 2. To estimate direct cost of illness of vitiligo and whether it represents a financial burden on patients. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out at the vitiligo unit of the Dermatology and Venerology Department in Tanta University Hospitals from October 2021 till March 2022. It included 66 vitiligo patients. A questionnaire was used to interview patients which consisted of the following parts (1) Socio demographic data. (2) Disease profile of patients. (3) Vitiligo life quality index (VLQI). (4) Direct cost of illness. Results: 78.9% of patients suffered from quality of life impairment. Patients suffering from moderate effect represented 21.2%, followed by very large and extreme effect represented 19.7% each and patients suffered slight effect represented 18.2%. Meanwhile, only 21.2% of patients reported no affection. The mean direct cost of illness was 340.9 ± 280.4 Egyptian pounds per month. Conclusion: Most vitiligo patients suffered some degree of quality of life impairment. Nearly half of them reported having extreme financial impairment.