Impact on quality of life and factors associated with relapse in Dermatophytoses

Abstract

Background  Dermatophytosis have a significant impairment in quality of life of the patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life in patients with dermatophytosis using Dermatology life quality index (DLQI), correlate DLQI with disease characteristics and assess the risk factors for relapse.   Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study based in a tertiary care hospital in central Nepal carried out from September 2020 to February 2021. A detailed clinical profile of each patient was recorded and a Nepali dermatology life quality index (DLQI) questionnaire was used to evaluate quality of life in these patients and was correlated with disease characteristics. A logistic regression analysis was done to assess the predictors of relapse.   Results A total of 128 patients were included in the study. The median age of study population was 26 years. Mean DLQI score was 12.39(±0.55) with no difference in male and female. Most of the patients (45.3%) had very large effect (score 11-20) on the quality of life. The quality of life had positive correlation with the increasing body surface area (p=.007) and itch scale (p=<.001) and negative correlation with the duration of the disease (p=.015). Males were 3.9 times more likely to relapse.  There was no statistical association between recurrence and use of steroids, sharing towel, age of patient and duration of disease.   Conclusion Dermatophytosis causes large impact on the quality of life of the patient. Larger body surface area involvement and large itch scale (measured in last 2 days) are associated with higher impairment in quality of life. Males are more likely to have higher rates of relapse.   Key words Dermatophytes, DLQI, Nepal, risk factors, relapse.