QUALITY OF LIFE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHRONIC URTICARIA PATIENTS ATTENDING DERMATOLOGY OPD, IN DERMATOVENEREOLOGY TEACHING HOSPITAL, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Chronic urticaria is a skin condition that significantly impairs patients’ quality of life, leading to significant physical limitations, psychological distress, and emotional impacts. However, no study has been done assessing its impact on patient’s day to day life in Ethiopia, which may contribute to underestimating the disease burden. This study aims to assess quality of vi life among Chronic urticaria patients, assess the associated factors including disease severity and improve patient outcome. Objective: this study aimed to assess quality of life and associated factors among chronic urticaria follow up patients attending Dermatovenerology outpatient department in Dermatology teaching hospital, Addis Ababa Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among selected patients with chronic urticaria. A total of 234 study participants were included from two selected dermatology teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa. Study participants were recruited using systematic random sampling technique and selection for study area was carried out using simple random sampling methods. Disease severity was assessed using the Urticaria Activity Score, while quality of life was evaluated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Data was collected through face-to face interviews. Median, and Inter Quartile Range (IQR) were used to describe Continuous data; and frequency and percentage were used to describe categorical data. Non-parametric tests were applied to check association. Mann–Whitney U tests were used for binary variables, Kruskal Wallis H tests for variables with more than two groups, and Spearman correlations for continuous variables. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Finally, the result is presented using table charts and graphs. Result: There was female predominance in this study (59.4%). The median age (IQR) was 35 (28, 46.25) year. Median DLQI was 12 (IQR: 6 -17). Urticaria severity score showed most participants (54.7%) had moderate to severe disease activity. Most participants (65.9 %) had moderate to severe impact on their quality of life. Symptoms and feelings were the most affected domain from DLQI score. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that more than half of study participants with CU have moderate to severe impairment on their QoL, with higher disease severity, longer disease duration and patients who started sedating antihistamine being associated with poorer QoL. Key words: Quality of life, Chronic urticaria, ALERT, Ethiopia