Health-Related Quality of Life in Morphea
OBJECTIVE: Little is known about health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with morphea (localized scleroderma). We determined the impact of morphea on HRQOL and clinical and demographic correlates of HRQOL. METHODS: Cross sectional survey of Morphea in Adults and Children (MAC) cohort. RESULTS: Morphea impairs HRQOL. Patients were particularly affected with respect to emotional well-being and concerns that the disease will progress to their internal organs. Patients with morphea had worse skin-specific HRQOL than those with other skin diseases, including non-melanoma skin cancer, vitiligo, and alopecia (lowest P <.0001). The morphea population was found to have significantly worse global HRQOL scores than the general U.S. population for all subscales (all P ≤.004) with the exception of bodily pain. Comorbidity (r =.35-.51, P ≤ .0029 -.0001) and symptoms of pruritus (r =.38 -.64, P ≤.001-.0001) and pain (r =.46-.74, P <.0001) were associated with impairment in multiple domains of skin-specific and global HRQOL. Physician-based measures of disease severity correlated with patient-reported HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Patients with morphea have negative impact on HRQOL particularly if symptoms or concerns regarding internal manifestations are present. Providers should be aware of this when evaluating and treating patients.
Emotions, Quality of Life, Scleroderma, Localized
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
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