Modified dermatology life quality index in patients with nail disorders

Background Skin diseases impact lives physiologically, socially and psychologically compromising quality of life (QoL). Nails are important epidermal appendages and their disorders contribute to a decrease in QoL. Hence, it is imperative to assess their impact. Objectives To study the modified DLQI in patients with nail disorders. Material & Methods A single-centre, questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care outpatient department over 18 months. Patients with diagnosed nail disorders in the age group of 18-60 years, of either sex, were included in the study and administered a pre-validated questionnaire (designed based on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire and validated by a departmental pilot study). Based on the responses marked, the total score was calculated, and patients were categorised into specific band groups, namely, 0-1 = No effect on QoL, 2-5 = small effect, 6-10 = moderate effect, 11-20 very large effect and 21-30 = extremely large effect. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.2 and correlated with the clinicodemographic profile. Results A total of 200 patients completed the study. Onychomycosis was the most common presentation (52.5%), followed by acute paronychia (23.5%) and nail psoriasis (18%). Higher modified DLQI scores were found in females with fingernail involvement, students and housewives. The number of nails affected and the duration of nail disorders followed an inverted bell-shaped pattern, with higher modified DLQI scores observed at both the lower and higher extremes. Overall, the impact of nail disorders showed a moderate effect on mean modified DLQI with a mean (range) of 6.9 (6-10). Conclusion Nail disorders, having a prolonged disease and treatment course had a moderate effect on the modified DLQI.