02471nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001653003000042653002000072653001600092653000900108653001100117653002900128653001100157653002800168653002200196653000900218653001000227653003100237100002400268700001700292700002200309700001900331700001400350245011500364856008400479300001000563490000800573520155000581022001402131       2007                            d10aSeverity of Illness Index10aQuality of Life10aMiddle Aged10aMale10aHumans10aHealth Status Indicators10aFemale10aElephantiasis, Filarial10aAged, 80 and over10aAged10aAdult10aActivities of Daily Living1 aChandrasena T G A N1 aPremaratna R1 aMuthugala M A R V1 aPathmeswaran A1 aSilva N R00aModified Dermatology Life Quality Index as a measure of quality of life in patients with filarial lymphoedema.  uhttps://academic.oup.com/trstmh/article-lookup/doi/10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.08.012  a245-90 v1013 a<p>The quality of life (QoL) and correlates of the QoL of lymphoedema patients attending filariasis clinics and a hospital outpatient department were studied using a Life Quality Index (LQI) in a region endemic for Bancroftian filariasis in Sri Lanka. The index was derived by modifying a previously validated Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) to focus on the oedematous limb rather than the skin. The index was scored from 0 (normal) to 30 (severely affects QoL). Lymphoedema was graded using criteria recommended by the WHO. Another semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the patient's socioeconomic status, frequency of acute adenolymphangitis attacks (ADLA) and measures practiced for morbidity control. Ninety-one patients (62 females, 29 males; mean age 50.4 years) were studied. A single lower limb, both lower limbs or a single upper limb were affected in 78 (85.7%), 10 (11.0%) and 3 (3.3%) patients, respectively. The severity of lymphoedema ranged from stage 1 (mild) to stage 6 (severe). The mean LQI was 8.2 (SD 5.2, range 0-20). The modified DLQI scores showed a significant positive correlation with severity of lymphoedema and a negative correlation with age (R=0.59 and R=-0.1, respectively). The frequency of ADLAs correlated with an increased modified DLQI score. Local pain, embarrassment and limitations of physical activities were the most distressing aspects of lymphoedema. Disease severity and early onset lymphoedema were found to be significantly associated with poorer QoL in filarial lymphoedema.</p>
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