ORIGINAL: Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study of the Impact of Cutaneous Lichen Planus on the Quality of Life of Patients at a Tertiary Center in Lagos, Nigeria

West Afr J Med. 2021 Mar 22; 38(3):228-232. PMID: 33765370

Abstract

Background: Lichen planus is a darkly pigmented skin disease that impairs the quality of life of patients. The effect of lichen planus on patient's quality of life (QoL) is not widely documented. The study's objective was to determine QoL impairment of LP patients, determine what aspect of QoL is impaired, and correlate clinical and sociodemographic characteristics with QOL impairment.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from February 2018 to January 2019 at the outpatient dermatology clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. All consecutive newly diagnosed LP patients who gave their consent were recruited into the study. Socio-demographic data and QoL (using the dermatology life quality index, DLQI) was documented. The hospital's ethical committee gave ethical approval for the study. The patients were clinically examined. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22. The level of significance of all tests was set at 5%.

Results: Quality of life was impaired in 95.5% of the patients. The mean DLQI score was 10±6.7. The minimum DLQI was one and the highest 24. Quality of life was mildly, moderately and severely impaired in 38.01%, 23.81% and 38.01% respectively. Pruritus was significantly associated with QoL impairment. Feelings of embarrassment (54.5%), itchy skin (54.5%), interference with being in public (54.5%), social life (50%) and having to deliberately choose clothes to cover the LP lesions (61.1%) were the main items impaired in the DLQI instrument.

Conclusion: Lichen planus affects QoL of patients negatively. The items of impairment are feelings of embarrassment, social functioning and choice of clothing.