The impact of skin diseases on quality of life: A multicenter study

INTRODUCTION

To date, no formal study has been published regarding how Colombian patients with skin disorders could be affected according to their perception of disease.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact in quality of life of skin diseases in a Colombian population.

METHODS

This multicenter study included patients with skin disease from almost the whole country. Individuals >18 years old; of any gender; with any skin disease and who signed informed consent, were included. We applied the Colombian validated version of the Skindex-29 instrument.

RESULTS

A total of 1896 questionnaires had sufficient information for the analyses. No significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics of patients who returned the questionnaire incomplete vs. complete, were found. Participants mean age was 41.5 years. There were no statistical differences in men vs. women regarding the global (p=0.37), symptoms (p=0.71) and emotions (p=0.32) domains, whereas statistical differences were found in the function domain (p=0.04; Mann-Whitney U test). Psoriasis, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, hair disorders, Hansen's disease, scars, hyperhidrosis and genital human papillomavirus disease scored the highest.

LIMITATIONS

Skindex-29 score variability as a result of differences in the location of the skin lesions, their inflammatory or non-inflammatory nature, and the start of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Even the most localized or asymptomatic skin lesion in our population leads to a disruption at some level of patient's wellness. This study adds well supported scientific data of the burden of skin diseases worldwide.

[Risk factors for basal cell carcinoma: a study from the national dermatology center of Colombia]

BACKGROUND

Colombia is home to one of the areas with the highest levels of exposure to UV radiation in the world, namely, the Andes Mountains, which stretch along the equator. Recent studies have reported an increase in the incidence of basal cell carcinoma in Colombia, but the risk factors associated with the development of this disease have not been studied.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk factors for basal cell carcinoma in patients from the National Dermatology Center of Colombia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a case-control study involving 406 individuals, and analyzed sociodemographic, epidemiological, and clinical factors using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The following risk factors were identified: skin phototypes I to III (odds ratio [OR], 15.4), family history of skin cancer (OR, 5.8), past history of actinic keratosis (OR, 3.3), continued residence in a rural area after the age of 30 years (OR, 2.96), practice of outdoor sports (OR, 2.67), history of 10 or more episodes of sunburn (OR, 2.3), actinic conjunctivitis (OR, 2.26), and failure to use a hat in childhood (OR, 2.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Different factors specific to Colombia increase the risk of basal cell carcinoma. In particular, the association with phototype III could partly explain the increase in incidence detected in this country. Preventive programs should target the risk groups detected and highlight the importance of basing decisions on local evidence.

[Seroepidemiological investigation of various tissue helminthiasis, by means of indirect hemagglutination test, in Lonquimay County, Chile]

In order to have a present perspective on the prevalence on the epidemiology of some tissue helminthiasis in Lonquimay County, southern Chile, in 1993 a seroepidemiological survey, by means of an indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) for hydatidosis, cysticercosis and trichinosis was undertaken. In 11 (1.2%), 10 (1.1%) and 6 (0.6%) out of 945 examined persons, most of them from rural areas, the corresponding IHAT resulted positive. Additionally, radiographic and ecotomographical studies for thorax and abdomen respectively were performed to the 11 individuals with serology positive for hydatidosis: whereas all the thoracic radiographies resulted negative, liver hydatic cysts were detected in five persons, who latter on were submitted to surgery. Prevalence rates of hydatidosis in Lonquimay are among the highest regional and national values.