DLQI scores in patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars: a prospective case control study

Abstract

Background: Keloids and hypertrophic scars (HTS) can cause functional impairment and psychosocial burdens, both of which affects quality of life (QoL). Our aim was to compare Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores in patients with keloids and HTS to those of psoriasis patients and normal controls.

Patients and methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients with keloids and HTS and 48 with psoriasis vulgaris attending our dermatology outpatient clinic, as well as 48 sex- and age-matched healthy controls completed the DLQI.

Results: Total DLQI scores of patients with keloids and HTS (7.79 +/- 5.10) and psoriasis (8.73 +/- 5.63) were comparable and significantly higher than that of healthy controls (0.58 +/- 0.77). No significant difference were found between patients with psoriasis and patients with keloids and HTS in terms of the total DLQI scores and the subscale scores (p > 0.05) except "treatment" (p < 0.05) sub-scale scores which were higher in psoriasis.

Conclusions: The QoL of patients with keloids and HTS is impaired as much as that of those with psoriasis. The DLQI questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the QoL in patients with keloids and HTS.