Quality of Life in Saudi Vitiligo Patients

INTRODUCTION

Vitiligo is an acquired skin disorder characterized by loss of melanocytes in the epidermis. Vitiligo has been confused with other diseases with similar clinical features, such as leprosy, which has increased the stigma.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, vitiligo plays an important role not only in the lives of affected individuals, but also their families and social circles. Also, the majority of population have skin type IV and V, and hence vitiligo is associated with negative impacts.

It is associated with low self-esteem, tendency to social isolation, and poor quality of life.[1] Hence the management of vitiligo should include the biopsychosocial approach in order to achieve full satisfaction of the patients. Disturbance of life aspects severely affect the outcome of medical interventions.

Quality of life (QOL) is currently a scientifically measurable tool that can be validated. In dermatology, the 3 most important and widespread QOL tools are the Skindex,[2] the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI),[3] and the Dermatology-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire.[4] A children’s DLQI was also introduced.[5] A cartoon version using the same validated questions was developed in full color.[6]

QOL scales can be used to compare disability between different skin disorders or other diseases. This enables researchers to better assess the implications of diseases and to measure the efficacy of medications and treatment.[17]

Most studies on QOL in skin disorders in general and vitiligo in particular, have stressed the impact on psychological, social, emotional, and economic status of affected patients.

The current study is aimed at studying QOL in vitiligo patients in order to assess its impact on them, their family, and social life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted from July to December 2006. A questionnaire was developed, which consisted of 92 questions. It was further shortened to 41 questions.

Validity and reliability tests were done on 26 candidates. The 41 questions were grouped into 4 dimensions. 1: Relation with colleagues (11) questions; 2: family life (11) questions; 3: social relationships (9) questions; and 4: self-respect (10) questions. Demographic and clinical information were also included in the questionnaire.

The questionnaire was distributed to vitiligo patients after explaining the purpose of the research and the method of filling the questionnaire. The time required to complete the questionnaire was 12–15 min.

Data were analyzed using the SPSS software package. The inclusion criteria were Saudis over 18 years of age with vitiligo, newly diagnosed within last 6 months.

All other Saudi patients presented to the clinic were included during the duration of the study. The tools used to make an analysis include dependent and independent t test, ANOVA test, and Scheffe’s test.

RESULTS

Table 1 illustrates the age and sex distribution of the study subjects. The mean age for males and females was 33 and 31 years, respectively. Age range for males was 19–64 years (SD 9.8), while that for females was 18–53 years (SD 7.6). No statistically significant difference in age between the 2 groups was noted (P > 0.05).

In the male group, 39% of males were single, 60% were married, and 1% were divorced. In the female group, 33% were single, 58% were married, and 8% were divorced.

Table 2 depicts the educational status for study subjects by gender. About 37% of females and males had secondary education or less. However, 14% of males had higher than college degree education as compared with less than 1% of females.

The minimum score in the 4 dimensions was zero. The maximum score was 33 in each of the relationship with colleagues and family relationship dimensions, whereas that in each of social relationship and self-respect was 27 and 30, respectively.

Table 3 demonstrates these differences in each dimension and in the total score of the scale. The total score for males on the QOL scale was 11.1 as compared with 23.92 in females. This difference is statistically significant (P < 0.01) and denotes that impact of QOL in female patients with vitiligo is significantly more affected than their male counterparts. The table also shows that there are statistically significant differences in mean scores of QOL between males and females in all 4 dimensions of the scale. Males have less mean scores than females, which means that vitiligo in males does not cause them as much problems with their colleagues, their family life, social relationships, and self-respect as is the case with females who scored significantly higher.

Table 4 shows that there are statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) in family life and social relationship dimensions. It also shows that there are statistically significant differences at the 0.05 level in the self-respect, social status dimension, and the total score. The Scheffe’s test showed that married subjects had less impact on QOL (mean score, 3.24) as compared with single subjects (mean score, 5.08). A similar difference in the same dimension was noted between married and divorced subjects. Married subjects scored 3.24, whereas divorced subjects scored 7.75 (P < 0.05).

Table 5 demonstrates differences in scores of QOL scale in study groups depending on their occupation. The t test showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in the total QOL score and the self-respect dimension. The Scheffe’s test showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between teachers and each of the administrative employees, merchants, retired persons, and soldiers. The average QOL score for each of the retired, merchant, government employee, soldier, other, and teacher were 2.2, 2.5, 3.7, 4.5, 7.3, and 7.7 respectively. In retired persons, lowest QOL scores were clearly shown (less QOL impact), whereas teachers scored highest (higher QOL impact). No significant differences in QOL scores were noted in each of the relationship with colleagues, family relationships, and social relationship dimensions.

Table 6 depicts differences of QOL scores in study subjects based on the educational level of these subjects. ANOVA test showed significant differences (P < 0.05) only in the social relationship dimension. The Scheffe’s test showed that Masters Degree holders had lowest scores compared with all others (QOL mean score of 1.26 as compared with 10.7, 9.7, and 5.6 for illiterates, read and write, and intermediate education, respectively). The test also showed no significant differences among subjects in the relationship with colleagues, family relationship, and self-respect dimensions.

Table 7 illustrates differences in QOL scale score in the study groups in relation to their age groups. ANOVA test showed significant differences (P < 0.01) in each of the relationships with colleagues, family relationship, self-respect, and the total scale scores. The Scheffe’s test showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the 21–30 years age group and each of 31–40, 41–40, 51–60 age groups. This age group scored highest in all dimensions (3.4, 5.3, 7.4, and 21.2, respectively) for each of the relationship with colleagues, family relationship, self-respect, and total score, respectively, which show more impact on QOL in the younger group. No significant differences related to age were noted in the social relationship dimension.

Table 8 shows differences in scores of the QOL scale in study groups in relationship to location of disease lesions. Lesions were divided into “exposed” (face, neck, hand, fingers, and palms) vs “unexposed” lesions (rest of the areas, ie, abdomen, chest, back, genital areas, legs, and others). Independent t test clarify that only the social relationship dimension showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the exposed (mean score, 5.0) and the nonexposed (mean score, 3.4). However, the same group scored higher in all other dimensions and the total scale, although such difference was not significant (15.5 vs 19).

DISCUSSION

In Asian population with darker skin colour, vitiligo is associated with major social, emotional, economic, and psychological negative implications for patients with the disease and their families. It is believed that better understanding of QOL components and the degree of its impact on patients can lead to better management and ways to handle this disease.

Although there are well-known validated instruments dealing with dermatological diseases and their impact on QOL, we preferred to establish another questionnaire. The need behind creation of new scale is that Arabs, especially population in gulf countries, have distinctive social, religious, and cultural structure. This will allow Arab researchers to use it in different countries and enable them to compare results with others.

The questionnaire contained 4 dimensions related to the family life, life with colleagues at school and work, their wider circle of social life, and the way they look inside their own selves and reflect how they truly feel about being effected with vitiligo.

Our study showed that vitiligo has a major impact on QOL of female subjects compared with male subjects. The total scale mean score on the questionnaire for males was 11.1, whereas that for females was 23.9. This difference was statistically significant P < 0.01. Due to the nature and length of our questionnaire, it cannot be accurately compared with other scales but clearly goes along with the DLQI of Finlay and others.

Gender can play a crucial role in the impairment of quality of life. Borimenjad et al,[8] and Cotterill et al,[9] showed that females had significantly more overall impairment of QOL as compared with males.

Vitiligo can be localized to hidden or exposed body areas but can also spread to cover major surfaces or the whole body surface. Shah and Coats[10] (2005), Beattie and Lewis-Jones,[11] reported that dermatology QOL is not affected by age in their study group but is significantly affected by extent of skin disease.

Cotterille and Cunliffe[9] and other investigators have shown that girls generally experience more psychological morbidity than boys. Our study did show a clear and significant higher score in females as compared with males on the total scores and in every dimension of the score. This can be attributed to the fact that females may feel less attractive and are more concerned of lower chances to get married.

Marital status showed differences in effects in the total score of the scale and 2 of its dimensions: the “family relationship” and the “self-respect.” Married subjects have less impact on their QOL as compared with single and divorced subjects. This could be explained by the more secured and stable life married subjects enjoy.

Our study shows a statistically significant difference in total scale scores and in the “self-respect” dimension among different occupations. Teachers scored very high compared with other occupations. This could be because teachers are always exposed to their class students and are under continuous focus. Retired individuals scored lowest probably because they are already old, have got used to the disease and with stable life. Educational level of vitiligo patients may play an important role in understanding and management of their own disease. Our study showed that those with a higher education “Masters degree” and above have lowest scores compared with all other subjects, which were only significant in the “social relationship” dimension probably due to the fact that this dimension is the one that has most interaction with others outside the nuclear family boundaries. Disease spread and extension to extremities, face, and neck are thought to have special impact on subjects affected with vitiligo. The finding reported by Shah and Coats[10] that dermatology QOL is affected by extent of skin disease was not strongly demonstrated in our study except in the “social relationship” dimension where those with exposed disease lesions scored significantly higher than those with unexposed lesions. This could be because patients’ families and colleagues in work get used to unusual appearance of the skin lesions and patients themselves have the same feeling towards exposed and nonexposed depigmented areas.

CONCLUSION

Females have been shown to be more effected by vitiligo in all dimensions of the scale. It is emphasized that efforts towards management should consider the psychosocial and economic factors, especially in females, in addition to therapeutic efforts.