Evaluation of life quality in patients with acnes vulgaris

Abstract

Abstract. Preliminary few studies indicate that age, gender and duration of acne vulgaris (acne) affect the quality of life of these patients.Objective - to assess the impact of the duration and severity of acne on quality of life of patients in gender, age and professional aspects in connection with the treatment.Material and methods: 98 patients with acne aged 18-29 years, among whom 36 were males (36,73 %), and 62 (63,26 %) females have been examined. The assessment of acne severity classification was carried out according to the classification of the American Academy of Dermatology, while the quality of their life was assessed by means of SF- 36 questionnaire.Results. Mild acne was found in 6 (6,12 %) patients, moderate one in 72 (73,47 %), severe one in 20 (20,41 %) cases. It was established that clinically significant severity of acne was more common in younger male patients (22 years). However, a greater impact on quality of life was found in female patients, older than 22 years, with professions associated with being among a large group of people and in case of long course (more than 4-5 years) of dermatosis. Mild acne had little impact on quality of life.Standard complex acne treatment during two months significantly improved quality of life indicators of patients with moderate degree of acne and most of the indicators in those with severe disease, which, however, didn’t reach the indicators in the people of the control group, and it shows the necessity to improve the programme of treating and preventive measures concerning such patients.Conclusion: Patients with acne have significant changes in life quality, depending on their gender, age and professional peculiarities as well as on the severity of dermatosis course. Determining the indicators of life quality by means of SF-36 questionnaire is an important aspect of the patient’s physical and psychiatric health assessment as well as a reliable criterion of their treatment efficacy.