Cutaneous symptoms of dermatomyositis significantly impact patients' quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Dermatomyositis affects visible skin and causes disease symptoms that can affect patients' quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
In all, 71 patients with dermatomyositis or dermatomyositis sine myositis completed two QOL measures (the Skindex-16 and the Dermatology Life Quality Index) and a visual analog scale for pruritus. Disease severity was assessed by Physician's Global Assessment.


RESULTS
The mean Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 10.7 and the mean Skindex-16 score was 51.1. Itching contributed to impact on both the Dermatology Life Quality Index and Skindex-16. Females reported worse QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of treatment on quality of life was not assessed in these analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
QOL impairment in dermatomyositis is greater than in other skin conditions including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Pruritus is an important treatable factor that significantly impacts QOL for patients with dermatomyositis.
Hundley
Jennifer L
JL
Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Carroll
Christie L
CL
Lang
Wei
W
Snively
Beverly
B
Yosipovitch
Gil
G
Feldman
Steven R
SR
Jorizzo
Joseph L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003872:Dermatitis; D003882:Dermatomyositis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus; D011565:Psoriasis; D011788:Quality of Life