The effect of hirsutism on the quality of life of Indian women

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONHirsutism is defined as excessive male pattern hair growth in a female. 1 The prevalence of hirsutism is 10% in women of child bearing age and is influenced by genetic and racial factors.2 It is cosmetically concerning for women and can affect the self-esteem significantly. 3Women with hirsutism have social phobia, insecurity about interpersonal relationships, shattered confidence and profound psychological sequlae. 4 Quality of life is defined as "the individuals" perceptions of their position in life in the context of culture and value systems in which they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.3 Several indices are available in the form questionnaires to measure the effect of diseases on the quality of life. One such questionnaire is Dermatology life quality index (DLQI), which is valid, simple and practical and is designed to measure the extent of disability caused by various skin diseases. 4ABSTRACT Background: Quality of life is an individual perception of physical, psychological and social functioning. Hirsutism is excess male pattern hair growth in females. In women, hirsutism causes significant psychological and social problems. It impacts quality of life negatively. So, this study was undertaken to determine the quality of life of women with hirsutism using dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Methods: Hirsutism was assessed quantitatively by Ferriman-Gallwey score (F-G score) and qualitatively by selfadministered questionnaires of DLQI. Other parameters such as age, occupation, co-morbidities, socio-economic status, marriage status, religion, educational status were assessed. Results: DLQI of 100 hirsute women, 12% had no effect, 34% had small effect, moderate effect in 37%, had very large effect in 17% and no patients had extremely large affect. Daily activity had highest mean DLQI followed by symptoms and feelings. The mean DLQI score of 100 hirsute women was 6.67±4.57. Mean DLQI score of hirsute women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was 9.96±5.62 which was greater than the patients without PCOS and it was statistically significant (p=0.03). DLQI score was not affected by severity of hirsutism, age, occupation, socio-economic status, marriage status, religion and educational status. Conclusions: Hirsutism had a moderate effect on the quality of life of Indian women. Impairment of quality of life was greater with the presence of PCOS. Daily activity of the Indian women was affected the most due to the presence of hirsutism.

Hi̇rsuti̇zmli̇ Türk Kadinlarda Yaşam Kali̇tesi̇ni̇n Değerlendi̇ri̇lmesi̇: Çapraz Kesi̇tsel Çalişma

“…mostly affected subdivisions of life quality were found to be daily activities (such as shopping, choice of clothes or housekeeping) and symptoms and feelings (such as itchy and sore skin, embarrassment) in the literature. 15,17,25,27,29 Our results were in concordance with these literature reports with the highest score in daily activities (31%) followed by symptoms and feelings (29%). Self-rated hirsutism scores were found to be higher than physician rated scores in previous studies 14 .…”

“…The average DLQI scores reported in the literature vary between 5.5 and 17.4. 10,15,25,26,28 While mean DLQI score in our patients is similar to some studies, 7,17,18,26,28,29 it is lower than some of the DLQI scores in previous studies. 15,25,27 The differences in DLQI scores in previous studies, including ours, were suggested to result from differences in the mean mFG scores.…”

“…According to these studies minimal or small effect was seen in 3-97% of patients, moderate effect was seen in 9-45% of patients and very large or extremely large effect was seen in 0-91% of patients. 15,17,18,25,27,29 The most important domains contributed to the DLQI scores, i.e. mostly affected subdivisions of life quality were found to be daily activities (such as shopping, choice of clothes or housekeeping) and symptoms and feelings (such as itchy and sore skin, embarrassment) in the literature.…”