title: Quality of life in patients with chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis: A before and after study on the impact of oral fluconazole therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis (CVVC) is a disorder characterised by the signs and symptoms of vulvovaginal inflammation and causally associated with the presence of Candida spp. in the vagina. This study aimed to establish the impact of treatment with fluconazole in CVVC on patients' quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a before and after study conducted in vulval dermatology clinics in Sydney, Australia. Patients were assessed at baseline by the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) grading of erythema at baseline and at 12 weeks after an oral fluconazole regime. The primary outcome measures were a change in their DLQI score and VAS grading. The secondary outcome measures were its tolerability and adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 82 of 91 patients (90%) completed the study. The mean drop in their DLQI score was 11.6 [95% CI (10.1, 13.0)] (P < 0.001). The post-treatment VAS scores were significantly lower than the pretreatment scores (P < 0.001). Adverse effects requiring cessation of fluconazole occurred in 4% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluconazole treatment at a dose of 50-100 mg daily achieved a significant observable and improvement in the QoL of 96% of patients with CVVC within 12 weeks of treatment. Adverse effects were minimal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|Sydney Medical School Northern, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.|Sydney Medical School Northern, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole
keywords: candidiasis; chronic vulvovaginal candidiasis; fluconazole; quality of life