Assessment of health related quality of life in patients with cervical dystonia and writer’s cramp

Background: There is paucity of literature regarding data about clinical and demographic factors affecting HRQoL with assessment with validated specific tool in patients with CD and WC especially from India.Methods: Demographic, clinical details, SF-36 and BDI score were noted in included patients. CD and WC severity scale were assessed by TWSTRS and BFM scale respectively. Disease specific quality of life in patients with CD was assessed by CDQ-24.Results: All 32 patients with CD scored significantly worse in all the eight domains of the SF-36. Patients with CD had significantly worse (mean BDI 12.14±6.7 versus 5.09±4.8; P<0.001) score. In CD group 15.62% have no depression, while 34.37% had mild and 34.37% had moderate to severe depression. Patients with CD had significantly worse CDQ-24 score (mean 50.96±20.47 versus 6.89±6.33); (P<0.001). TWSTRS score had negative correlation with BDI and CDQ-24. All 60 patients with WC scored significantly worse in all domains of the SF-36 except 3 domain physical functioning (p =0.80), bodily pain (p=0.122) and vitality (p=0.97).Among WC patients 45% have no depression, 21.67% had mild and 23.35% had moderate to severe depression. BFM had significant negative correlation with all SF-36 subscale except role emotional (p=0.059).Conclusions: Patients with CD and WC suffered from significant impairment in HRQoL with moderate to severe depression .The validated specific scale provides further evidence for profound impact of above mentioned dystonias on physical, psychological and social aspect of quality of life.