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Dermatology and Therapy
Published in: Dermatology and Therapy 4/2024

Open Access 16-04-2024 | Alopecia Areata | Original Research

The Epidemiology of Hospital-Treated Alopecia Areata in Denmark, 1995–2016

Authors: Sissel Brandt Toft Sørensen, Prethibha George, Oladayo Jagun, Robert Wolk, Lynne Napatalung, Samuel H. Zwillich, Lars Iversen, Vera Ehrenstein

Published in: Dermatology and Therapy | Issue 4/2024

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Abstract

Introduction

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune skin disease presenting as nonscarring hair loss. Information on the epidemiology of AA, especially the occurrence of AA and its subtypes within the general population, is scarce. The study aimed to estimate the incidence rates and prevalence of hospital-treated AA and its subtypes in Denmark and to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with AA, including comorbidities and use of prescription medications.

Methods

This was a cohort study based on data from administrative and health registers in Denmark in 1995–2016. The study included individuals who were (1) registered with a hospital inpatient or hospital-based outpatient clinic diagnosis of AA between 1995 and 2016 in the Danish National Patient Registry covering encounters at all Danish hospitals, (2) alive and resided in Denmark anytime between 1995 and 2016, (3) aged ≥ 12 years, and (4) resided uninterrupted in Denmark during the 12 months before the first AA diagnosis during the study period.

Results

During the study period, 2778 individuals with an incident hospital-based diagnosis of AA were identified; 63.1% were female and 28.7% of the patients were aged ≥ 50 years. Over the study period, the overall incidence rate for any hospital-treated AA per 100,000 person-years was 2.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.53–2.72), and the overall prevalence in 2016 was 71.7 (95% CI 69.4–74.1) per 100,000 persons. Both incidence rate and prevalence increased over time. Prevalence of most hospital-treated comorbidities or history of medication use was below 10% and was similar in the alopecia totalis (AT)/alopecia universalis (AU) and non-AT/AU subtypes of AA.

Conclusion

This cohort study reported incidence rates and prevalence over time and characteristics of individuals with hospital-treated AA in Denmark, which are in agreement with those previously reported in this population.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The Epidemiology of Hospital-Treated Alopecia Areata in Denmark, 1995–2016
Authors
Sissel Brandt Toft Sørensen
Prethibha George
Oladayo Jagun
Robert Wolk
Lynne Napatalung
Samuel H. Zwillich
Lars Iversen
Vera Ehrenstein
Publication date
16-04-2024
Publisher
Springer Healthcare
Published in
Dermatology and Therapy / Issue 4/2024
Print ISSN: 2193-8210
Electronic ISSN: 2190-9172
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-024-01145-9

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