Mental Health and Psychosocial Burden Among Patients with Skin of Color Living with Vitiligo: Findings from the Global VALIANT Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Factors associated with vitiligo burden in patients with darker skin (Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI) are not fully understood. This analysis of patients in the global VALIANT study examined the quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial health among patients with vitiligo by skin type. Methods Participants from 17 countries were surveyed regarding their clinical characteristics, everyday experiences with vitiligo, impact of vitiligo on daily activities, emotional well-being, and mental health. Results Of 3541 surveyed patients, 40.8% (n = 1445) had darker skin versus 59.2% (n = 2096) with fairer skin (types I–III). Patients with darker skin had greater median disease extent than those with fairer skin (6.6% vs 2.5%; P < 0.0001). Mean Vitiligo Impact Patient scale scores were higher among patients with darker skin (31.2 vs 24.5; P < 0.0001); daily activities and emotional well-being were significantly more impacted among patients with darker skin. Among individual skin types, patients with types V and VI expressed considerably higher rates of burden versus all other skin types in all assessments. Interestingly, among patients with fairer skin, those with skin type I reported higher rates of burden than those with skin types II and III. Conclusion Patients with darker skin, particularly skin types V and VI, were more impacted in their daily lives, emotional well-being, and mental health than those with fairer skin, suggesting that a disproportionate need for strategies to improve QoL and mental health burden exists among patients with vitiligo who have skin of color.

Keywords

• Mental health
• Psychosocial
• Quality of life
• Skin of color
• Vitiligo