Trivedi Madhvi, Mehta Rajesh D, Ghiya B C, Soni Prasoon
From the Department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprosy, Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.
Indian J Dermatol. 2024 May-Jun;69(3):205-211. doi: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_723_22. Epub 2024 Jun 26.
Chemotherapy has increased survival rate in patients but is associated with systemic as well as cutaneous adverse effects. Among cutaneous adverse effects, nail changes caused by chemotherapy are often overlooked. But these changes are a major cause of cosmetic concern and negatively affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients.
This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy-induced nail changes on QoL of patients with malignancy and to compare the severity of impact on QoL in various nail changes.
This hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted for a period of 12 months. Only patients on chemotherapy who developed nail changes were included in the study. A nail-specific QoL questionnaire was used. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of nail changes on QoL.
The mean QoL score of 188 patients was 32.37 ± 7.9. The mean QoL score of females was more than that of males. QoL was statistically more significant in younger age groups [<20 years: 46.71 ± 1.7] ( < 0.001). Patients with pigmentary nail changes (melanonychia and leukonychia) had more significant impact on QoL ( < 0.001).
There is a significant impact of chemotherapy-induced nail changes on QoL of patients leading to psychological distress, reduced self-confidence and social limitation. This highlights the importance of proper counselling of patients beforehand regarding the possibility of associated nail changes during and after the chemotherapy regimens.
化疗提高了患者的生存率，但会引发全身及皮肤不良反应。在皮肤不良反应中，化疗引起的指甲变化常常被忽视。但这些变化是导致患者在美容方面担忧的主要原因，对患者的生活质量（QoL）产生负面影响。
本研究旨在评估化疗引起的指甲变化对恶性肿瘤患者生活质量的影响，并比较不同指甲变化对生活质量影响的严重程度。
本基于医院的横断面观察性研究为期12个月。研究仅纳入出现指甲变化的化疗患者。使用了一份针对指甲的生活质量问卷。进行统计分析以评估指甲变化对生活质量的影响。
188例患者的生活质量平均得分为32.37±7.9。女性的生活质量平均得分高于男性。在较年轻年龄组中生活质量在统计学上更显著[<20岁：46.71±1.7]（<0.001）。有色素沉着性指甲变化（甲黑变病和白甲病）的患者对生活质量的影响更显著（<0.001）。
化疗引起的指甲变化对患者的生活质量有显著影响，导致心理困扰、自信心下降和社交受限。这凸显了在化疗方案期间及之后预先对患者进行有关指甲变化可能性的适当咨询的重要性。
