The Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Urticaria

Abstract

Background: Chronic skin urticaria (CU) is a type of skin illness that is characterized by pruritus, angioedema, or wheals for longer than six weeks. It has a major impact on patients quality of life. Study aim: To identify the impact of chronic skin urticaria on the patients quality of life. Study setting: Erbil Dermatology Teaching Center. Study sample: One hundred and three patients, above 16 years of both sexes who were having chronic urticaria were included in the study sample. Study design: A case series research was used in this study. Study period:The study was conducted from the first of March 2021 to the end of January 2022. Data collection: All patients were interviewed by the researcher using a specially designed questionnaire sheet and the needed information was filled by the researcher. These information include age, gender, education, occupations, residence, marital status, and skin types in addition to the DLQI questionnaire which was downloaded from Cardiff University website. There are 10 questions or items in the DLQI questionnaire, which are further subdivided into six subdomains of life. Result: The score mean of DLQI was (9.3±4.37); 24 (23.3%) CU patients have a low effect, 39 (37.9%) with moderate effect and 40 (38.8%) patients have high effects. The mean DLQI score was higher among self employed patients and lower among retired patients and higher among CU patients were visiting more than two doctors and among patients who receiving treatment. Conclusion: Chronic skin urticaria has commonly moderate effect on the patients' quality of life and affected by occupation, severity of disease, and treatment. Recommendations: This study recommended that the physician should adopt an integral plan in management of CU taking in consideration mental and social wellbeing of patients. Additionally, more national researches on the QoL of CU patients must be maintained.