Correlates of self-reported quality of life in adults and children with morphea

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2014-05, Vol.70 (5), p.904-910
• Main Authors: Das, Shinjita, MD, Bernstein, Ira, PhD, Jacobe, Heidi, MD, MSCS
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Child; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dermatology; Female; Humans; life quality or quality of life; localized scleroderma; Male; morphea; Morphea in Adults and Children cohort; outcomes or disease outcomes; Quality of Life; Scleroderma, Localized - classification; Scleroderma, Localized - diagnosis; Scleroderma, Localized - therapy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.11.037

Background Determining a disease's impact on life quality is important in clinical decision making, research, and resource allocation. Determinants of quality of life (QOL) in morphea are poorly understood. Objective We sought to ascertain demographic and clinical variables correlated with negative impact on self-reported QOL in morphea. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of the Morphea in Adults and Children cohort. Results Symptoms (pruritus and pain) and functional impairment were correlated with decreased QOL in children and adults. This was true in both sexes and was independent of subtype and age. Patient-reported QOL correlated with physician-based measures of disease severity in adults, but not in children. Patients with linear and generalized morphea had the greatest impact on QOL. Limitations Small sample size is a limitation. Conclusion Symptoms and functional impairment were determinants of impaired life quality in both children and adults independent of morphea subtype. These results suggest that clinicians should consider suppressing the accumulation of new lesions (when rapidly accumulating) and symptoms (pain and pruritus) in the treatment of patients with morphea.