Maryam Khalili; Saman Mohammadi; Rezvan Amiri; Romina Ahmaditabatabaei; Mahin Aflatoonian
Abstract
Background: Alopecia areata is a non-cicatricial alopecia that profoundly affects patients’ quality of life. In this study, we evaluated the influence of demographic and clinical features of alopecia areata patients on their quality of life.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on alopecia ...
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Background: Alopecia areata is a non-cicatricial alopecia that profoundly affects patients’ quality of life. In this study, we evaluated the influence of demographic and clinical features of alopecia areata patients on their quality of life.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on alopecia areata patients at the Dermatology Clinic of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman. Firstly, demographic features and clinical data were collected. Then, the severity of alopecia areata [based on the severity of alopecia tool (SALT) score] and quality of life of the patients [using dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and child dermatology life quality index (CDLQI)] were calculated. Finally, the impacts of the patient’sdemographic and clinical features on quality of life were evaluated via multivariate logistic regression.Results: One hundred and thirty-five patients with alopecia areata were enrolled in the study. The mean SALT score was 6.63 ± 6.34 (range 2–64). Mean DLQI scores for mild and moderate cases of AA were 7.4 and 12.5, respectively (P = 0.57). Females had significantly higher DLQI scores compared to males. Furthermore, patients with negative family history of alopecia areata had significantly higher DLQI scores than patients with positive family history (P = 0.03).Conclusion: We found no significant difference in quality of life between patients with different alopecia areata severities. However, females and patients with a negative family history of alopecia experienced significantly greater negative impacts on quality of life than males and those with a positive family history.