Life quality of Chinese patients with chronic urticaria as assessed by the dermatology life quality index

Background No report focused on the life quality of Chinese patients with chronic urticaria (CU). It was also due to lack of data to assess the usage of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in Chinese patients. Objectives We explored the quality of life (QoL) of Chinese patients with CU and assessed the factor structure and reliability of the Chinese version of the DLQI. Methods The DLQI scores were recorded to evaluate the life quality of out-patients with CU. The reliability and the factor structure of the DLQI were assessed using reliability analysis and factor analysis. Results A total of 131 patients completed the DLQI. The mean score was 9.93 that was significantly associated with the patients age (P = 0.01). Chronic urticaria had the greatest effect on the Syndrome and Feeling (50.64%), followed by Work/School (41.98%). A reliability analysis showed that the value of the Cronbachsa reached 0.85 if item 1 in the DLQI was excluded. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that there were two latent common factors underlying the items in the questionnaire. Conclusions Chronic urticaria has a moderate impact on the life quality. More attention should be paid to the interference from item 1 in assessing the QoL by the DLQI, although it remains a concise tool with high reliability.