Comorbidities in pediatric alopecia areata

BACKGROUND: Comorbidities are associated with higher health care costs, complex management, and poorer health outcomes. Identification and treatment of comorbid conditions in paediatric alopecia areata (AA) patients could provide an opportunity to improve health outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of comorbidities among paediatric patients with AA using a large de-identified aggregated patient database.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using aggregated health record data through April 1, 2019. Patients ≤18 years of age, with alopecia areata (n = 3510) and without alopecia areata (n = 8 310 710) were identified. The primary outcome was the prevalence of comorbidities among AA patients.

RESULTS: Of the 8 314 220 paediatric patients, 3510 (1570 males and 1940 females) had a diagnosis of alopecia areata. The most common comorbidities included atopic dermatitis (17.4% vs. 2.2% controls, OR 9.2, 95% CI 8.55-10.18, P < 0.001), anaemia (7.7% vs. 2.4% controls, OR 3.4, 95% CI 3.06-3.92, P < 0.001), obesity (5.7% vs. 1.1% controls, OR 5.6, 95% CI 4.76-6.34, P < 0.001), vitamin D deficiency (5.1% vs. 0.4% controls, OR 14.7, 95% CI 13.5-18.1, P < 0.001), hypothyroidism (2.6% vs. 0.2% controls, OR 12, 95% CI 10.73-15.9, P < 0.001), vitiligo (1.4% vs. 0.04% controls, OR 32.2, 95% CI 24.01-42.1, P < 0.001), psoriasis (1.4% vs. 0.07% controls, OR 20.6, 95% CI 15.55-27.2, P < 0.001), hyperlipidemia (1.4% vs. 0.2% controls, OR 5.9, 95% CI 4.4-7.7, P < 0.001), and depression (2.6% vs. 0.6% controls, OR 4.8, 95% CI 5.09-9.45, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study suggest that children with AA are more likely to have certain autoimmune and metabolic disorders than the general paediatric population. Paediatric AA patients display a severe burden of autoimmune and metabolic diseases, thus in daily practice, dermatologists might consider multidisciplinary management in these patients.