Epidemiology of Alopecia Areata and Population-Wide Comorbidities in Germany: Analysis of Longitudinal Claims Data

October 2023 in “ British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement ”

Matthias Augustin, Nesrine Ben-Anaya, Katharina Müller, Kristina Hagenström

alopecia areata atopic dermatitis pruritus lupus erythematosus urticaria psoriasis AA itching hives

Studysummary This study found that, in Germany between 2016 and 2020, alopecia areata had an annual prevalence of 210 cases per 100,000 and an incidence of 72 cases per 100,000, with higher rates in specific regions and associated with comorbidities like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

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In a study analyzing claims data from a representative sample of 2.88 million adults insured by DAK-Gesundheit in Germany from 2016 to 2020, the prevalence of alopecia areata (AA) in 2020 was found to be 210 cases per 100,000, with an incidence of 72 cases per 100,000. Patients with AA had significantly higher rates of atopic dermatitis, pruritus, lupus erythematosus, urticaria, and psoriasis compared to those without AA. Women were slightly more affected than men. There were notable regional variations, with the highest prevalence and incidence rates observed in Brandenburg, Hesse, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The study suggests that AA is a common condition in Germany and highlights the need for further population-based studies to fully understand its epidemiology.

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