TY - JOUR AU - Rahman, Atiya AU - Basit, Anam AU - Mohsin, Sadia AU - Ahmed, Najia AU - Tahir, Moizza AU - Ishfaq, Asim PY - 2022/03/04 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Quality of Life of Melasma Patients in Pakistan JF - Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal JA - PAFMJ VL - 72 IS - 1 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.51253/pafmj.v72i1.7401 UR - https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/7401 SP - 307-10 AB - <p><strong>Objective:</strong> To assess the quality of life in Pakistani melasma patients.</p><p><strong>Study Design:</strong> Cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Place and Duration of Study:</strong> Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from Oct 2020 to May 2021.</p><p><strong>Methodology:</strong> The study was conducted on 126 adult patients of both genders by non-probability, consecutive sampling technique. Melasma severity was assessed by 'melasma area severity index (MASI) and quality of life impairment by 'dermatology life quality index (DLQI).</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 126 patients participated in the study, out of which 85.7% were females, and 14.3% were males. Mean MASI score was 12.21 ± 6.87, and mean DLQI score was 8.22 ± 7.46. Male patients had higher MASI scores and statistically signifycant DLQI than female patients (p=0.016). Employed people and those from the higher socio-economic group showed a more significant impairment of their quality of life.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> There was moderate impairment of quality of life in melasma patients. Healthcare givers need to recognize the effect of melasma on mental health while counselling patients and devising management strategies.</p> ER -