Alopecia Areata Treatment Patterns, Healthcare Resource Utilization, and Comorbidities in the US Population Using Insurance Claims

July 2021 in “ Advances in Therapy ”

Maryanne M. Senna, Justin Ko, Antonella Tosti, Emily Edson-Heredia, D Christian Fenske, Amy K Ellinwood, M. J. Rueda, Baojin Zhu, Brett King

Alopecia Areata topical steroids hyperlipidemia hypertension thyroid disorders

TLDR Most people with Alopecia Areata don't get treatment within a year; it's costly and often comes with other health issues.

This study examined 68,121 patients with Alopecia Areata (AA) using IBM MarketScan® Research Databases and found that 55.8% received treatment within 12 months of diagnosis, with topical steroids being the most common. The average patient age was 40.3 years, and 61.0% were female. Common comorbidities included hyperlipidemia (22.4%), hypertension (21.8%), and thyroid disorders (13.1%). The mean total healthcare costs were $11,241.21 for all causes and $419.12 for AA, with outpatient and prescription costs as the main contributors. The study highlighted a high comorbidity burden, significant healthcare costs, and a lack of effective treatment utilization for AA, indicating a need for better treatment options and understanding of the disease's long-term impact.

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research ‘You Lose Your Hair, What’s the Big Deal?’ I Was So Embarrassed, I Was So Self-Conscious, I Was So Depressed: A Qualitative Interview Study to Understand the Psychosocial Burden of Alopecia Areata

30 citations , September 2020 in “Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes”

Alopecia Areata (AA) causes significant emotional distress, including feelings of embarrassment, depression, and anxiety, and impacts social interactions and daily activities.

research Italian Guidelines in Diagnosis and Treatment of Alopecia Areata

37 citations , December 2019 in “Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia”

The Italian guidelines offer advice for diagnosing and treating alopecia areata based on expert opinion and limited clinical trial evidence.

research Alopecia Areata: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study of 104 Patients

29 citations , April 2019 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Older age at onset of alopecia areata leads to less severe and shorter episodes, with most patients experiencing significant hair regrowth.

research Comorbidities in Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

100 citations , February 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

People with alopecia areata often have other health issues like skin diseases, metabolic syndrome, stomach infections, lupus, anemia, thyroid problems, mental health issues, vitamin D deficiency, and hearing and eye problems.

research Alopecia Areata: Treatment Options and Efficacy

182 citations , January 2018 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Some treatments can help with a hair loss condition called alopecia areata, but none ensure lasting results; choices depend on the person, with JAK inhibitors showing promise for severe cases.

research Alopecia Areata: Current Situation and Perspectives

34 citations , December 2017 in “Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria”

Alopecia Areata is a complex, unpredictable autoimmune hair loss condition with limited treatment options and a significant psychological impact.

research A Practical Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Hair Loss in Children and Adolescents

40 citations , July 2017 in “Frontiers in Medicine”

Early and personalized treatment for hair loss in young people is crucial to prevent permanent damage and should include psychological support.

research Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients With Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

95 citations , October 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

People with alopecia areata, a skin disease, generally have a poor quality of life, especially if more of their scalp is affected.

research Epidemiology and Burden of Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review

144 citations , July 2015 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology”

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease affecting about 2% of people, causing significant disability and often associated with mental health issues and other autoimmune conditions.

research The Autoimmune Basis of Alopecia Areata: A Comprehensive Review

162 citations , February 2015 in “Autoimmunity reviews”

Alopecia areata is caused by the immune system attacking hair follicles.

research British Association of Dermatologists’ Guidelines for the Management of Alopecia Areata 2012

218 citations , May 2012 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Guidelines suggest various treatments for alopecia areata, but leaving it untreated is also an option as 80% cases may recover on their own.

6 / 6 results

research Alopecia Areata: Evidence-Based Treatments

71 citations , March 2009 in “Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery”

Alopecia areata can cause unpredictable hair loss, and treatments like corticosteroids and minoxidil may help but have varying side effects.