Effect of onychomycosis on quality of life

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 702 - 704
• Main Authors: Drake, Lynn A., Scher, Richard K., Smith, Edgar B., Faich, Gerald A., Smith, Shondra L., Hong, Joseph J., Stiller, Matthew J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.05.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absenteeism; Activities of Daily Living; Antifungal Agents - economics; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Attitude to Health; Biological and medical sciences; Cost of Illness; Demography; Drug Costs; Female; Foot Dermatoses - drug therapy; Foot Dermatoses - economics; Foot Dermatoses - microbiology; Foot Dermatoses - physiopathology; Foot Dermatoses - psychology; Hand Dermatoses - drug therapy; Hand Dermatoses - economics; Hand Dermatoses - microbiology; Hand Dermatoses - physiopathology; Hand Dermatoses - psychology; Human mycoses; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycoses; Mycoses of the skin; Nails - physiopathology; Office Visits; Onychomycosis - drug therapy; Onychomycosis - economics; Onychomycosis - physiopathology; Onychomycosis - psychology; Pain - physiopathology; Quality of Life; Self Concept; Sex Factors; Shoes; Surveys and Questionnaires; Telephone; United States; North America; America; Infection; Human; Skin disease; Survey; Nail(anatomy); Mycosis; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/S0190-9622(98)70199-9

Background: Onychomycosis impairs normal nail functions, causes considerable pain, interferes with daily activities, and has negative psychosocial effects. Objective: Our purpose was to determine patients’ perception of onychomycosis on the quality of life. Methods: A total of 258 patients with confirmed onychomycosis were surveyed by telephone at three centers. Responses to a standardized quality-of-life questionnaire were analyzed for patient demographics, physical and functional impact, psychosocial impact, and economic impact. Results: Highest positive responses were nail-trimming problems (76%), embarrassment (74%), pain (48%), nail pressure (40%), and discomfort wearing shoes (38%). Ability to pick up small objects was impaired in 41% of subjects with fingernail involvement. More than 58 onychomycosis-related sick days and 468 medical visits (1.8 per subject) were reported during a 6-month period. Conclusion: Onychomycosis has significant social, psychologic, health, and occupational effects. Relevance of quality-of-life issues to overall health, earning potential, and social functioning should prompt reconsideration of the value of aggressive treatment of and financial coverage for onychomycosis. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:702-4.)