title: To what extent is quality of life impaired in vitiligo? A multicenter study on Italian patients using the dermatology life quality index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is believed that vitiligo has an impact on the overall patient quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate QoL in a fairly large sample of Italian vitiligo patients by using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-one vitiligo patients referred to 9 dermatological centers were offered to participate by filling in the Italian version of the DLQI questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total DLQI score was 4.3 (SD ±4.9; range: 0-22). In multivariate analysis, DLQI >5 was associated with female gender, stability of the disease over time and involvement of the face at disease onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impairment of QoL is overall limited in Italian vitiligo patients, especially if it is compared with results from other available studies. This could be due to cultural and ethnic characteristics of the sample.
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Department of Dermatology, District No. 6, Health Local Unit, Taranto, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ingordo
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.forename: Matelda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medri
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raone
authors.forename: Maria Donata
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Digiuseppe
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fai
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pezzarossa
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Lernia
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peccerillo
authors.forename: Vincenzo Claudio
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Battarra
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sirna
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patrizi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Naldi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003880:Dermatology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult