title: Factors affecting quality of life in patients with vitiligo: a nationwide study.
abstract: Little is known about factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) of patients with vitiligo, and previous studies have shown conflicting results.
  
  
  
  To explore the QoL of patients with vitiligo and to identify factors affecting QoL.
  
  
  
  A nationwide questionnaire-based study was conducted with 1123 patients with vitiligo recruited from 21 hospitals in Korea from July 2015 to June 2016. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire for demographic information and the Skindex-29 instrument. Mild or severely impaired QoL in patients with vitiligo was assessed according to each domain (symptoms, functioning and emotions) of Skindex-29. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with QoL.
  
  
  
  Of the enrolled participants, 609 were male and 514 female, with a mean age of 49·8 years (range 20-84). The median duration of disease was 3·0 years (range 0-60). Using multivariate logistic regression modelling, the involvement of visible body parts and a larger affected body surface area were consistently associated with QoL impairment in all three domains of Skindex-29. Additionally, the QoL of patients aged 20-59 years, who potentially had a more active social life than older patients, was associated with functional impairment. Furthermore, a higher educational background was associated with emotional impairment.
  
  
  
  A multitude of factors significantly influence the QoL of patients with vitiligo. A better appreciation of these factors would help the management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5975-8519
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Chonnam National University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: White Line Skin Clinic, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Yeom
authors.affiliation: Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Dongkuk University School of Medicine, Ilsan, Korea.
authors.forename: A-Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Dong-A University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: M B
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8801-1369
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Soon Chun Hyang University School of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cha University Bundang Cha Medical Center School of Medicine, Bundang, Korea.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Cha University Bundang Cha Medical Center School of Medicine, Bundang, Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: SungKyunKwann University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0765-9812
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Seoul National University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Ajou University Hospital School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Ajou University Hospital School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital School of Medicine, Ilsan, Korea.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haw
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Chonnam National University School of Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Chonbuk National University School of Medicine, Cheonju, Korea.
authors.forename: S-K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Dankook University Hospital College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: YK Park Yoon Kee's Dermatology Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult