Quality of Life in Patients with Autoimmune Bullous Disease (AIBD)

Background:  Background:  AIBD is a chronic dermatological condition of autoimmune origin, affecting skin and mucous membrane. Systemic corticosteroids are mainstay of treatment. Use of newer biologic Rituximab has been introduced in the last decade.  Comprehensive studies reporting quality of life, factors affecting it are few in India.

Methods and Materials: Prospective observational study in paitents with AIBD, followed up at 1 and 3 months. Data on demographics, disease characteristics, treatment, and treatment costs were collected. QOL was assessed and data were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared using chi-squared and t-tests.

Results: Of the 47 patients recruited, 66% were females, mean age (SD) of participants being 46.6 (±11.1) years. Median (IQR) duration of AIBD was 0.83 (0.46-1.50) years.  The baseline DLQI was 10 with 44.7% patients having a poor QoL (DLQI ≥11). The mean change in DLQI over 3 months was 8.67 (±2.83), which was statistically significant. Significant predictors of poor QoL was adjuvant treatment [OR 55.00, 95% C.I. (4.30-703.43) p=0.002].

Conclusion: Patients had moderate severity of disease and poor QoL at baseline. They received rational treatment and there was an improvement in the DLQI score. There was a high economic burden due to hospital and drug costs. We recommend that health insurance coverage should be increased to help these patients.