Cutaneous adverse drug reactions and their impact on the quality of life of patients: a study at a tertiary care centre

Background and objective: Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs) encompass a wide spectrum of drug-induced skin and mucosal manifestations, ranging from mild rashes to severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), such as toxic epidermal necrolysis. Early recognition and prompt withdrawal of the causative drug are vital for better outcomes. CADRs are increasingly common due to polypharmacy, yet regional data on their patterns and causative agents remain limited. This study aims to identify the clinical and epidemiological patterns of CADRs and to assess their impact on quality of life using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Materials and methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 84 patients with clinically suspected CADRs from January to December 2024. Data were collected through patient interviews, clinical examinations, and the assessment using the Naranjo causality scale. DLQI was used to evaluate the psychosocial burden associated with CADRs. Results: Fixed drug eruption was the most common presentation (25%), followed by maculopapular eruptions (11.9%) and urticaria (9.5%). SCARs accounted for 17.9% cases. Antimicrobials (57.2%) were the most frequently implicated drugs. Generalized lesions and pruritus were significantly associated with higher DLQI scores. DLQI Score interpretation reveals that 3.6% patients have no effects whereas 46.7% patients are moderately affected. Based on the Naranjo algorithm, causality was classified as probable in 76.2%, possible in 14.3%, and definite in 9.5% of cases. Conclusion: CADRs significantly impact quality of life, especially in severe cases or those with strong drug causality. Antimicrobials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and antiepileptics were major causative agents. These findings underscore the importance of early detection, comprehensive drug history-taking, and a patient-centred approach to mitigate both the physical and psychological burdens of CADRs. July 2025; Vol. 19(2):006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.19.015 *Correspondence: Shivani, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (IGIMS), Patna-800014,Bihar, India. Email: [email protected]. © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).