Up to now, no studies have employed the EuroQoL EQ-5D questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with pemphigus.
Our objectives were to measure HRQoL of pemphigus patients with the EQ-5D and to analyse its validity in this patient population.
Between 2014 and 2017, a multicentre cross-sectional study was carried out in four dermatological departments in Hungary. Outcome measures included the EQ-5D, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorder Intensity Score (ABSIS) and an average pain intensity visual analogue scale (VAS) for the past 3 months.
A total of 109 patients with pemphigus participated in the study (mean age 57 years; 64% women). Among the EQ-5D dimensions, the most problems were reported regarding pain/discomfort (50%), mobility (43%) and anxiety/depression (43%). We found no significant difference in mean EQ-5D index scores between patients with pemphigus vulgaris and those with pemphigus foliaceus (0.81 vs. 0.86, P = 0.14). The mean EQ-5D index scores of patients with limited, moderate, significant and extreme pemphigus were 0.88, 0.82, 0.72 and 0.67, respectively (P = 0.001). The number of comorbidities was associated with greater impairment in EQ-5D index scores (P < 0.001). DLQI (rs = -0.62, P < 0.001) and the average pain intensity VAS (rs = -0.59, P < 0.001) more strongly correlated with the EQ-5D index scores than did ABSIS (rs = -0.40, P < 0.001).
Our study is the first to use the EQ-5D questionnaire in pemphigus. The EQ-5D is a valid measure of HRQoL in pemphigus that can be useful both in clinical practice and in economic evaluations.

Measuring quality of life with the EQ-5D in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus