D3.316 - Impact of chronic urticaria on the quality of life of patients followed up at a university hospital Nis-Serbia

Chronic urticaria is very prevalent in the general population and, despite its low mortality, can have devastating effects on the quality of life of those who experience it.

The research included 40 outpatients with chronic urticaria treated  at the Clinic for Skin Diseases and Clinic for hematology and immunology of the University Clinical Center Nis Serbis. Demographic data and data from the Urticaria Control Test (UCT), Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days (UAS7) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) obtained from patients who voluntarily agreed to participate in this study were used. Questionnaires were completed at the baseline visit and after 24 weeks. The original English version of the UCT, UAS7 DLQI were independently translated into Serbian by the native Serbian speaker with a command of the English language. Patients were treated according to the recommendations of the EAACI/GA2LEN EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI guide for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Forty respondents participated in the research, among whom there were 11 (27,5) men and 29 (72,5) women. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the first UAS7 and the first DLQI (ρ=0.810; p<0.001). A statistically significant negative correlation exists between the first UCT and UAS7 (ρ=-0.712; p<0.001), as well as the first UCT and DLQI (ρ=-0.700; p<0.001). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the second UAS7 and the second DLQI (ρ=0.836; p<0.001). A negative statistically significant correlation exists between the second UAS7 and UCT (ρ = -0.685; p<0.001), as well as the second UCT and DLQI (ρ= -0.748; p<0.001).

Our study provides evidence that the Serbian versions of UAS7 and UCT are good evaluation tools to reflect QoL in adult CSU patients. We confirmed that in the Serbian version UAS7 and UCT had a strong correlation. These data suggest that UAS7 can be substituted for UCT due to its convenience in daily clinical practice and good sensitivity to therapeutic interventions.