BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a common disease with an unknown etiology. It is a chronic disease which causes severe disfigurement, and so may significantly affect a patient's quality of life. This study was designed to evaluate the illness perception and quality of life in patients with vitiligo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 25 questions on the causes, timeline, consequences, and control of disease was given to 80 patients with vitiligo attending a private skin clinic in Tehran, Iran, in 1999. The roles of age, sex, duration of disease, education, extent of disease, and family history of vitiligo were assessed. RESULTS: Eighty patients (22 males and 57 females, one not mentioned), with a mean age of 30 years (SD = 11 years) and a disease duration of 7.1 years (SD = 7.8 years), completed the questionnaire; 62.5% of the patients believed that stress played a role in their disease; 31.3% believed that their genetic background played a role in their disease, more so in patients with a positive family history of vitiligo. Almost one-half of patients believed that their illness had major consequences on their lives. One-half of patients believed that their illness was likely to be permanent rather than temporary, more so in patients with a longer duration of disease and a higher level of education. Only 60% of patients considered that their treatments were effective. CONCLUSION: Vitiligo may considerably affect various aspects of patients' lives. The knowledge of patients about the causes and course of their disease is limited.
BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a common disease with an unknown etiology. It is a chronic disease which causes severe disfigurement, and so may significantly affect a patient's quality of life. This study was designed to evaluate the illness perception and quality of life in patients with vitiligo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 25 questions on the causes, timeline, consequences, and control of disease was given to 80 patients with vitiligo attending a private skin clinic in Tehran, Iran, in 1999. The roles of age, sex, duration of disease, education, extent of disease, and family history of vitiligo were assessed. RESULTS: Eighty patients (22 males and 57 females, one not mentioned), with a mean age of 30 years (SD = 11 years) and a disease duration of 7.1 years (SD = 7.8 years), completed the questionnaire; 62.5% of the patients believed that stress played a role in their disease; 31.3% believed that their genetic background played a role in their disease, more so in patients with a positive family history of vitiligo. Almost one-half of patients believed that their illness had major consequences on their lives. One-half of patients believed that their illness was likely to be permanent rather than temporary, more so in patients with a longer duration of disease and a higher level of education. Only 60% of patients considered that their treatments were effective. CONCLUSION: Vitiligo may considerably affect various aspects of patients' lives. The knowledge of patients about the causes and course of their disease is limited.
Authors: Kepa Oyarbide-Valencia; Jasper G van den Boorn; Cecele J Denman; Mingli Li; Jeremy M Carlson; Claudia Hernandez; Michael I Nishimura; Pranab K Das; Rosalie M Luiten; I Caroline Le Poole Journal: Autoimmun Rev Date: 2006-05-06 Impact factor: 9.754
Authors: Khaled Ezzedine; Viktoria Eleftheriadou; Heather Jones; Kristen Bibeau; Fiona I Kuo; Daniel Sturm; Amit G Pandya Journal: Am J Clin Dermatol Date: 2021-09-23 Impact factor: 7.403