Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Combined Climatotherapy and Phototherapy

Background. Psoriasis impairs the quality of life (QoL) of patients as is in such severe diseases as cardiac failure or some malignant diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the QoL of Bulgarian psoriasis patients and its dynamics after different treatment approaches. Matherial and methods. The study was conducted in 93 patients (55 men and 38 women), mean age 45 years. The patients were divided in 3 groups: group of patients with psoriasis placata and group of patients with psoriasis palmoplantaris, both undergoing combined climatotherapy and a control group of patients with psoriasis placata undergoing Narrow Band Ultraviolet B phototherapy (NB UVB). The combined climatotherapy was performed in the “Tuzlata” rehabilitation hospital, Balchik, Bulgaria and included thalassotherapy, peloidotherapy and balneotherapy. We used the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DQLI) questionnaire to assess the QoL of the patients before and after the treatment. Results. The improvement of the QoL in patients with psoriasis placata undergoing combined climatotherapy was statistically higher compared to the patients undergoing NB UVB phototherapy. The improvement in the QoL of the patients with psoriasis placata undergoing combined climatotherapy was statistically signifi cant compared to the patients with psoriasis palmoplantaris undergoing the same treatment. There was no statistically signifi cant difference in the improvement of the QoL between the patients with and without comorbidities. Conclusion. Оur results suggest that the combined climatotherapy has better benefi cial effect on the QoL of the patients with psoriasis.