Factors associated with quality of life in facial melasma: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundMelasma is a common chronic focal hypermelanosis that affects photexposed areas as face, mainly in women at fertile age. It inflicts a significant impact in quality of life; nevertheless, quality of life scores (e.g. MELASQoL) are not strongly correlated with clinical severity (e.g. MASI) in facial melasma, suggesting that different factors can influence the perception of disease beyond the clinical extension or the intensity of pigmentation. ObjectivesTo explore clinical and socio-demographic aspects that influences MELASQoL scores. MethodsCross-sectional study enrolling 155 adults (>18 y.o.) with facial melasma. MELASQoL, MASI, clinical and demographic information were assessed. The associations among factors were explored by multivariable methods. ResultsThe mean (SD) age of the participants was 39 (8) years, and 134 (86%) were females. The correlation (Spearmans rho) between MELASQoL and MASI was 0.35 (P < 0.05). In a multivariate regression, MELASQoL score was associated (P 0.05) to MASI score ( = 0.6), lower income ( = 6.8), be single ( = 4.2) and low education level ( = 5.0). At multiple correspondence analysis, MASI, sex, marriage, education and income were associated with MELASQoL, as well as MASI was associated to skin phototypes, income and education level. ConclusionThe perception of life quality impairment in melasma is influenced by low scholarly, low family income, single marital status and greater clinical severity. Resume ContexteLe melasma est une hypermelanose focale chronique commune qui affecte les zones exposees au soleil comme le visage, principalement chez les femmes a age fertile. Il a un impact significatif sur la qualite de vie; neanmoins, les scores de qualite de vie (par exemple MELASQoL) ne sont pas fortement correles avec une gravite clinique (par exemple MASI) dans le melasma facial, suggerant que differents facteurs peuvent influencer la perception de la maladie au-dela de l'aspect clinique ou de l'intensite de la pigmentation. ObjectifsExplorer les aspects cliniques et sociodemographiques qui influencent les scores MELASQoL. MethodesEtude transversale impliquant 155 adultes (>18 ans) ayant un melasma facial. MELASQoL, MASI, informations cliniques et demographiques ont ete evaluees. Les associations entre les facteurs ont ete explorees par des methodes multivariees. ResultatsL'age moyen (SD) des participants etait de 39 ans (8), et 134 (86%) etaient des femmes. La correlation (Spearman0s rho) entre MELASQoL et MASI etait de 0,35 (P < 0.05). Dans une regression multivariee, le score MELASQoL etait associe (P 0.05) au score MASI (b = 0.6), aux bas revenus (b = 6.8), aux celibataires (b = 4.2) et aux faibles niveaux d'educations (b = 5.0). l'analyse de correspondance multiple, MASI, le sexe, le mariage, l'education et le revenu etaient associes a MELASQoL, MASI etait egalement associe aux phototypes cutanes, aux revenus et aux niveaux d'educations. ConclusionLa perception de la degradation de la qualite de vie dans le melasma est influencee par un faible niveau scolaire, un faible revenu familial, le mariage et une plus grande severite clinique.