Publication:

Impact of alopecia areata on quality of life assessed by the dermatology life quality index: a cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar

Background Alopecia areata is a long-term autoimmune disease that causes non-scarring hair loss. It manifests as distinct, circular or oval patches on scalp or other parts of the body having hair. It happens when the immune system attacks anagen-phase hair follicles, abruptly stopping hair growth, affecting people of all ages. This study is designed to assess the impact of alopecia areata on quality of life using the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) among patients in a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar.

Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the dermatology outpatient department of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from January 2025 to June 2025. Ninety-two patients aged 18–65 years with clinically diagnosed alopecia areata were enrolled. Quality of life was assessed using the validated Urdu version of the DLQI. Data were analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 28. The chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between DLQI scores and demographic or clinical factors.

Results The mean age of participants was 31.4±10.7 years, with 59% males. The mean DLQI score was 9.6±5.2, indicating a moderate impact on quality of life. Higher DLQI scores were significantly associated with female gender (p=0.03), disease duration greater than one year (p=0.02) and severe clinical disease (p<0.001).

Conclusion Alopecia areata has a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life, among females having long-standing or severe disease. Routine use of DLQI may help identify patients who require additional psychological support alongside dermatologic treatment.