A Multi-Centered Case-Control Study of Vitiligo Support Groups and Quality of Life

Background: There is limited research on the association between vitiligo support group membership and patient quality of life (QoL) Objectives: To explore the association between support groups and QoL in those with vitiligo by evaluating and comparing the QoL o vitiligo support group members and non-support group members. Methods: Support group members (n=135) and non-support group members (n=129) were recruited from the Global Vitiligo Foundatio (GVF), and three academic medical centers respectively.Patients completed the Vitiligo-Specific Quality of Life (VitiQoL) instrument an a demographic survey. Results: Mean VitiQoL scores for support group members were higher than non-support group members (48.6 ± 23.6 vs 33.0 ± 23.8 P-value < 0.0001), highlighting more negatively impacted QoL. Support group members were less likely to be undergoing treatmen (27.4% vs 53.5%; P-value = <0.0001) and were more likely to report duration of vitiligo for >20 years (38.5% vs 19.4%; P-value 0.0007). Conclusions: Vitiligo support group membership is associated with worse QoL. Individuals with vitiligo who have worse QoL, chronic and/or untreated vitiligo may be more likely to seek out vitiligo support groups. Support group referral should be considered in th therapeutic management of vitiligo, particularly in patients Dowhose Not QoL _Copy is more significantly impacted, who fail, or are without acces to treatment, or have longstanding disease.