Assessing the health-related quality of life of cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients in Draa-Tafilalet, southeastern Morocco

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a significant public health concern globally. This study aims to evaluate the impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis on the quality of life of patients in the Draa-Tafilalet region of Morocco. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 87 patients between December 2022 and July 2023 using the Skindex-16 questionnaire. The results revealed that cutaneous leishmaniasis has a mild to moderate impact on health-related quality of life, with 26.4 % of participants reporting a low impact and 73.6 % reporting a moderate impact. A significant gender difference was observed in Skindex-16 scores, with moderate impact being more prevalent among females (60.90 % vs. 30.10 %, p = 0.002). Furthermore, facial lesions were associated with a statistically significant reduction in quality of life, particularly in the emotional (p < 0.001) and functioning (p = 0.01) domains. These findings highlight the need for targeted management strategies that address the substantial impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis on patients' quality of life. Future studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods are warranted to further elucidate the effects of cutaneous leishmaniasis on patients' well-being.