Assessment of Impairment of Quality of Life in Foot Eczema and Correlation thereof with Epidemiological Data of its Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Eczema of foot adversely impacts daily activities, work productivity, and interpersonal relationships. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study collated epidemiological data of 70 outpatients of foot eczema, evaluated their quality of life by 10-item dermatology life quality index (DLQI) questionnaire, and undertook the correlation thereof. RESULTS: Cases were predominantly males (48; 68.5%); 26 (37.1%) belonged to fifth decade of life and 47 (67%) presented within 12 months of onset. Dorsa of feet was involved in most (59; 84.2%) cases. Itching was a universal complaint followed by scaling (51; 72.9%), dryness (22; 31.4%), and oozing (21; 30%). History of atopy was reported by 15 (21.4%) patients; tobacco and/or alcohol abuse 32 (45.7%) patients; past treatment was received by 37 (52.9%) patients; and winter aggravation in 9 (12.3%) patients. Mean DLQI score was 13.64; with very large effect (11–20) on QoL in 38 (54.3%) patients; moderate (6–10) in 15 (21.4%) patients; extremely large (21–30) in 9 (12.9%) patients; and small (2–5) in 8 (11.4%) patients. Mean scores of questions of DLQI tool were 2.46 in first question (symptoms), 1.99 in fifth (social activities); 1.81 in seventh (working/studying); and 0.17 in fourth (clothes) question. Significant (P < 0.05) impairment of quality of life emerged with respect of burning, scaling, oozing, history of atopy, seasonal variation, and past treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study reports significant association of atopy, winter aggravation, past treatment, burning, scaling, and oozing with adverse quality of life in our study on cases of foot eczema and appears to be first study from India.