Assessment of quality of life using WHOQOL-BREF in patients with visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: This study was aimed to assess the impact of quality of life using WHOQOL-BREF in patients with Visceral leishmaniasis (VL).

Methods: A total of 95 VL cases and 95 healthy participants filled out the questionnaires. Data on socio-demographic aspects along with disease duration were collected. Data were compared using a t-test, analysis of variance and chi-square test.

Results: VL patients experienced very high impact on their quality of life. Study cohort had male preponderance (72.63%). Majority (64.21%) were aged < 40 years. Longer disease duration was found to have significantly poor quality of life (p < 0.05). The physical domain was found to be most affected domains of quality of life (QOL). QOL was affected most in illiterate, married, housewife, rural population and patients with longer disease duration (p < 0.05). The psychological and environmental domains were significantly affected in > 40 years of age group married patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: VL significantly impaired the patients' (QOL) in all four domains (physical, psychological, social relationship and environmental). Physical domain was significantly the most affected domain.