Effect of onychomycosis on quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Onychomycosis impairs normal nail functions, causes considerable pain, interferes with daily activities, and has negative psychosocial effects.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine patients' perception of onychomycosis on the quality of life.


METHODS
A total of 258 patients with confirmed onychomycosis were surveyed by telephone at three centers. Responses to a standardized quality-of-life questionnaire were analyzed for patient demographics, physical and functional impact, psychosocial impact, and economic impact.


RESULTS
Highest positive responses were nail-trimming problems (76%), embarrassment (74%), pain (48%), nail pressure (40%), and discomfort wearing shoes (38%). Ability to pick up small objects was impaired in 41% of subjects with fingernail involvement. More than 58 onychomycosis-related sick days and 468 medical visits (1.8 per subject) were reported during a 6-month period.


CONCLUSIONS
Onychomycosis has significant social, psychologic, health, and occupational effects. Relevance of quality-of-life issues to overall health, earning potential, and social functioning should prompt reconsideration of the value of aggressive treatment of and financial coverage for onychomycosis.
Drake
L A
LA
Department of Dermatology, the Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114-2696, USA.
Scher
R K
RK
Smith
E B
EB
Faich
G A
GA
Smith
S L
SL
Hong
J J
JJ
Stiller
M J
MJ
D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003710:Demography; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000503:physiopathology; D009819:Office Visits; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012775:Shoes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
D000935:Antifungal Agents