Normative data and socio-demographic determinants of the dermatology life quality index in a large online sample of the Hungarian population

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Population norms are available for several generic health-related quality of life questionnaires, but rarely for disease- or specialty-specific questionnaires. The aim of our study was to calculate population norms for the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score..

Areas covered

We conducted an online self-completed questionnaire survey on a large sample of the general Hungarian adult population. Respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics and dermatology-related quality of life aspects were recorded. A total of 2,001 participants completed the questionnaire, with the average age of 48.2 (SD = 16.6) years, half of the respondents in our sample (n = 981) reported long-standing health problems. The average DLQI score was 1.9 (SD = 4.0) with women having a higher average (2.0, SD = 3.9) than men (1.8, SD = 4.0; p = <0.001). The DLQI score differed among age-groups with younger people having relatively higher DLQI averages. When the multivariate linear regression model was applied, it showed that young age, lower income and unemployment status were associated with higher DLQI scores, while controlling for the existence of skin disease (p < 0.05).

Expert opinion

This study established DLQI population norms among the general population, which may provide a reference point in health-policy and financing decision-making.

KEYWORDS:

• DLQI
• population norm
• quality of life
• skin diseases
• socio-demographic factors

Declaration of interest

Z Beretzky and V Brodszky were supported by the Higher Education Institutional Excellence Program of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in the framework of the ‘Financial and Public Services’ research projects (NKFIH-1163-10/2019 and TKP2020-IKA-02). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

One peer reviewer has received research, speaking and/or consulting support from Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline/Stiefel, AbbVie, Janssen, Alovtech, vTv Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Samsung, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Amgen Inc, Dermavant, Arcutis, Novartis, Novan, UCB, Helsinn, Sun Pharma, Almirall, Galderma, Leo Pharma, Mylan, Celgene, Valeant, Menlo, Merck & Co, Qurient Forte, Arena, Biocon, Accordant, Argenx, Sanofi, Regeneron, the National Biological Corporation, Caremark, Advance Medical, Suncare Research, Informa, UpToDate and the National Psoriasis Foundation; and has stock in Sensal Health. One peer reviewer works for PRECISIONheor, a health economics consulting firm that provides services to life sciences companies. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Authors’ contribution

All authors contributed to the study conception and critical review of the paper. Z Beretzky, F Rencz and V Brodszky developed the study design and interpreted the data. Data analysis was performed by Z Beretzky, V Brodszky and F Rencz. Funding was obtained by Z Beretzky and V Brodszky. The manuscript was drafted by Z Beretzky and V Brodszky. All authors read and approved the final manuscript to be published.

Availability of data and material

All data of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval was obtained for the data collection (Hungarian Medical Research Council; approval Nr. 3857-4/2019/EKU).

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all respondents included in the study.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2022.2108793

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Higher Education Institutional Excellence Program of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology in the framework of the ‘Financial and Public Services’ research projects (NKFIH-1163-10/2019 and TKP2020-IKA-02).