title: Health-related quality of life in patients with primary cutaneous amyloidosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) is a relatively rare and itchy skin disorder characterized by amyloid deposits in the superficial dermis. The cosmetic disfigurement and severe pruritus dramatically affects the patient's quality of life. In spite of the prevalence of the disease in China, the quality of life (QoL) impact of the PCA has not been well defined and is the focus of this study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the HRQoL of patients with PCA and to evaluate the association between HRQoL scores, disease, and socio-demographic determinants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 104 PCA patients and 101 healthy participants completed the questionnaires. HRQoL was measured using dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and SF-36. The socio demographic and clinical data such as age, sex, duration of disease and distribution of lesion pattern were analyzed mainly by hierarchical multiple regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with PCA experienced significantly impaired health-related quality of life. The mean DLQI score was 9.05. Younger age, female gender, more pruritus and distribution pattern were independent predictor correlates of the high DLQI scores. The PCA group showed significantly decreasing average scores in several aspects of psychological symptoms, including SF, RE and MH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCA disease has a negative impact on the HRQoL of patients, and the HRQoL is associated with various disease characteristics. In conjunction with medical interventions, psychological and sociocultural assessment and intervention should be an essential part of the management of these cases.
authors: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Sheng
authors: S
authors: Fang
authors: Department of burn and plastic surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Xiao
authors: X
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Ai-Jun
authors: AJ
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Shuang
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Kui
authors: K
authors: Shan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D028226:Amyloidosis, Familial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012873:Skin Diseases, Genetic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult