Patients’ perception of vitiligo severity

Abstract

Identifying which factors contribute to vitiligo severity and determining their individual weight are important in the management of vitiligo. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive variables concerning vitiligo severity as perceived by the patients. Based on a questionnaire, several factors that may contribute to the Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) of severity were investigated within a Belgian vitiligo population (n = 291). In addition, possible factors influencing vitiligo severity were scored and ranked. The strongest correlations with the PtGA of severity were found for impact, Dermatology Life Quality Index and disease extent. Based on multivariable regression analyses, 64.7% of PtGA of severity could be predicted by subjective and objective variables, while 32% could be explained by objective clinical features only. Patients considered lesion location, extent and disease activity as the most important contributing factors to severity. Vitiligo severity is determined by objective clinical features, but also, for a significant part, by the perceived impact of the disease.