title: Good quality of life in former Buruli ulcer patients with small lesions: long-term follow-up of the BURULICO trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Buruli Ulcer is a tropical skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, which, due to scarring and contractures can lead to stigma and functional limitations. However, recent advances in treatment, combined with increased public health efforts have the potential to significantly improve disease outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the Quality of Life (QoL) of former Buruli Ulcer patients who, in the context of a randomized controlled trial, reported early with small lesions (cross-sectional diameter <10 cm), and received a full course of antibiotic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  127 Participants of the BURULICO drug trial in Ghana were revisited. All former patients aged 16 or older completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF). The WHOQOL-BREF was also administered to 82 matched healthy controls. Those younger than 16 completed the Childrens' Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (Inter Quartile Range) score on the DLQI was 0 (0-4), indicating good QoL. 85% of former patients indicated no effect, or only a small effect of the disease on their current life. Former patients also indicated good QoL on the physical and psychological domains of the WHOQOL-BREF, and scored significantly higher than healthy controls on these domains. There was a weak correlation between the DLQI and scar size (ρ = 0.32; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BU patients who report early with small lesions and receive 8 weeks of antimicrobial therapy have a good QoL at long-term follow-up. These findings contrast with the debilitating sequelae often reported in BU, and highlight the importance of early case detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Service, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, Gronigen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klis
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Section Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, Gronigen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Adelita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranchor
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Agogo Presbyterian Hospital, Agogo, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kabiru M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abass
authors.affiliation: Nkawie-Toase Government Hospital, Nkawie, Ghana.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tuah
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Service, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, Gronigen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loth
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Service, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, Gronigen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kristien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Velding
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Service, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, Gronigen, the Netherlands; Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tjip S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: van der Werf
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Service, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University, Gronigen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ymkje
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stienstra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents