Work

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Alopecia Areata and its Associated Comorbidities, 1990–2021, and Projections to 2050: An Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background At present, there are no updated epidemiological data on alopecia areata (AA) up to 2021, and no studies have examined the differences regarding AA patients before and after the age of 14. However, patients with AA before the age of 14 do suffer from limited treatment options and high recurrence rates.Methods We extracted the prevalence, incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of AA from 204 countries and regions from 1990-2021. Subgroup analyses based on gender, age, global, national, regional, sociodemographic index (SDI) and World Bank income were also conducted to identify trends. We also decomposed the disease burden of AA, quantified the degree of inequality associated with SDI across countries, and projected the disease burden of AA by 2050. The epidemiology of AA and its associated diseases was also highlighted.Findings From 1990-2021, age-standardized prevalence, incidence and YLDs of AA globally show a decreasing trend, and rates are predicted to increase overall during the period 2021-2050, with females dominating. There was a reduction in the burden of disease caused by AA in high SDI regions, but AA in general did not reflect a concentration in certain regions and was more equally distributed. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth was the major contributor to the burden of AA, followed by population aging. Patients with AA before the age of 14 years were associated with anxiety disorders, conduct disorders, and the onset of depressive disorders, but patients after the age of 14 years were not associated with the onset of these disorders. Also, atopic dermatitis has been associated with AA.Interpretation The health burden of AA is likely to increase gradually in the future, which emphasizes the urgency of addressing the evolving public health challenges posed by AA. Meanwhile, the epidemiological differences in psychological disorders, between children and non-children with AA further demonstrate the importance of differentiated recognition of AA at different ages.

Source: Acta Dermato Venereologica

DOI: 10.2340/actadv.v105.43367

Authors: Dan Wang, Peizhi Deng, Shengbo Yang, Yangfan Xu, Jianyun Lu

Institutions: Central South University, Third Xiangya Hospital, Northwestern University

Language: English

Topic: Hair Growth and Disorders

Subfield: Urology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,725