The health-related quality of life and psychological profile in patients with oropharyngeal Pemphigus Vulgaris in complete clinical remission: A case-control study

Background: Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) is a severe autoimmune blistering disease which may affect the patient's health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and mood even during quiescent disease activity. We sought to evaluate HR-QoL, quality of sleep (QoS), anxiety and depression in oropharyngeal PV patients (OPV) in complete clinical remission on or off therapy (CCR-on, CCR-off). Methods: Thirty OPV patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. The Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) were administered. Descriptive statistics, including the Mann-Whitney U test and hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, were used. Results: The OPV patients had statistically lower scores in the majority of items of the SF-36 and higher scores in the PSQI, HAM-A and HAM-D than the healthy controls (P <.004; P <.001; and P <.001 respectively). Nine (30%) of the OPV patients were poor sleepers (PSQI > 5) with higher scores in the SF-36, HAM-A and HAM-D compared with the good sleepers (PSQI < 5). No statistically significant difference was detected in the OPV group when comparing patients in CCR-on and CCR-off, or in consideration of the cumulative time of the disease duration. Conclusions: HR-QoL of OPV patients can be impaired even over periods of relatively well-being, therefore, clinicians should monitor periodically their HR-QoL, QoS and psychological profile in order to guide treatments also toward improving their HR-QoL.