Quality of Life of Lower Limb Lymphatic Filariasis Patients in a North Indian Tertiary Care Center: A Prospective Observational Study

This observational study was carried out at a tertiary care facility in North India. A total of 154 patients with different degrees of lymphedema and clinically diagnosed lower limb lymphatic filariasis (LF; ages 15-75 years) were included. Seven dimensions of quality of life (QoL) were assessed using the Lymphatic Filariasis Specific Quality-of-life Questionnaire (LFSQQ; higher scores indicate a better overall QoL). There was a significant (p<0.001) difference in all the QoL domains among different grades. All QoL domains significantly worsened (p<0.001) among patients with disease grade III compared to grade I. However, pain/discomfort, psychological health, social participation, and total scores were significantly (p<0.001) lower among patients with disease grade III than II. The LFSQQ and overall QoL response were significantly different (p<0.001) among duration of disease groups and grades of disease. The study shows that LF has a significant negative effect on quality of life, especially in individuals who have a long-term illness and are in advanced stages of the disease.