Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), translated into Kazakh, for assessing the quality of life of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) in Kazakhstan, has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the reliability and validity of the Kazakh language DLQI as a tool for assessing the quality of life of patients with AD. METHODS: This multicenter study involved 883 adult patients of the Kazakh population diagnosed with AD. To assess the quality of life of AD patients, the DLQI questionnaire translated into Kazakh was used. RESULTS: The reliability (Cronbach α) of the Kazakh version DLQI questionnaire was -0.924. The average DLQI score for the sample was 10.7 ± 8.2. Nearly 53.8% of patients had mild AD and 35.3% had moderate AD. According to the DLQI questionnaire, the average score increases with rising body mass index: patients who are overweight (11.9 ± 8.5) and those with obesity of the first degree (13.1 ± 9.0) have scores indicating a significant impact of the skin disease on their quality of life, whereas patients with normal weight (10.2 ± 8.0) or underweight (7.9 ± 7.4) experienced a more moderate effect, P = 0.001. Relapses 2 times a year (12.2 ± 8.5) and 3 or more times a year (12.6 ± 8.7) worsened the quality of life relatively more than relapses 1 time per year, P = 0.001. Smoking and alcohol consumption affected the deterioration in the quality of life of patients with AD (P ≤ 0.05). The quality of life of patients with AD in remission according to the DLQI scale was higher, P = 0.001. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the Kazakh language version of the DLQI is a reliable and valid tool for measuring the impact of AD on quality of life. Its applicability in research and clinical settings underscores its versatility. The study underscores the significance of clinical and demographic characteristics, along with the quality of life, for an accurate assessment of disease severity and effective treatment.