The quality of life of 790 patients with photodermatoses.

Background: Polymorphic light eruption and erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) have been demonstrated to have a moderate and large impact on the quality of life (QoL) of patients, respectively. However, there is little information available about the impact of other photodermatoses on QoL.
Objectives: To assess and compare the impact of all forms of photodermatoses on patients' QoL using the standard 1-week Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire and a modified questionnaire to assess the impact over the previous year.
Methods: All patients with photodermatoses seen between 2001 and 2005 at five U.K. photobiology centres were contacted by post on the same day during a forecasted sunny week across the U.K. and asked to complete DLQI questionnaires.
Results: A total of 1877 patients were contacted. Seven hundred and ninety-seven (42%) patients replied, with a range from 30% to 48% for the five individual centres. Nearly two-thirds of patients with actinic prurigo (AP) and more than one-third of patients with photoaggravated dermatoses (PAD), chronic actinic dermatitis, EPP and solar urticaria had a DLQI of > 10, confirming a very large effect of the disorders on QoL. Of the cutaneous porphyrias, both variegate porphyria (median DLQI 3) and porphyria cutanea tarda (median DLQI 1.5) had a much lower impact on QoL than EPP.
Conclusion: This is the first large-scale study to attempt to measure the impact of a range of photodermatoses on QoL. Photodermatoses have a major impact on QoL. This impact is highest in AP and PAD.