D2.49 - Quality of Life and Affecting Factors in Patients with Chronic Urticaria

Chronic urticaria (CU) negatively affects quality of life and may impair school and work performance, and creates an economic burden. Data on quality of life and factors affecting it in pediatric patients diagnosed with CSU are limited.

Patients aged 12–18 years diagnosed with chronic urticaria (n = 62, 46.8% male) were included. Patients with chronic diseases other than urticaria, primary immunodeficiency, or active skin diseases were excluded. Disease activity was assessed using the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7), and quality of life was evaluated using the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) at diagnosis and during follow-up.

The median age of patients was 15.8 years (IQR: 13.7-17.0), and the median age at urticaria onset was 12.8 years (IQR: 10.0-14.0). The median duration of chronic urticaria was 34.5 months (IQR: 12.0-55.0). Most patients (n = 57, 91.9%) received regular treatment. Higher disease activity was associated with poorer quality of life. The median UAS7 score decreased from 20 (IQR: 13-28) at baseline to 4 (IQR: 0-9) at follow-up, corresponding to a median improvement of 78.9% (p < 0.001). The median total CU-Q2oL score decreased from 35.8 (IQR: 18.9-47) to 5.4 (IQR: 2.2-14.8), with a median improvement of 77.6% (p < 0.001). Significant improvement was observed across all questionnaire domains. The greatest improvement was in the sleep area (100%), followed by daily activities (82.5%), limitation (73.2%), appearance (66.7%), pruritus (62.5%), and swelling (8.3%), respectively. An improvement of more than 75% in quality of life was seen in 55% of patients within three years (Figure 1). Atopy was detected in 20 of 58 patients (34.5%). Although there was a tendency for improvement in quality of life of more than 75% in patients without atopy, significance was lost in the multiple regression analysis. Being male increased the improvement in quality of life of more than 75% by approximately 3.5 times (Table 1).

Chronic urticaria significantly impairs quality of life in adolescents. Marked improvement is observed within three years in more than half of patients, particularly in males and those without atopy.