Incidence and prevalence of alopecia areata in the Australian primary care setting: A retrospective analysis of electronic health record data

• DOI: 10.1111/ajd.14126
• Publication Date: 2023-07-06T07:52:44Z
• Authors: R. Sinclair; S. Eisman; W. Song; B. Heung; C. Surian; C. M. Y. Lee; D. Witcombe
• Keywords: Medical record

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common immune-mediated non-scarring hair loss, with worldwide incidence between 0.57% and 3.8%. The prevalence of AA in the Australian general population have not been previously reported.To describe Australia using primary care data. A secondary objective was to identify demographic characteristics, comorbidities treatment patterns among Australians living AA.We analysed electronic health record data captured from national clinical practice management software over 10-year index period 2011 2020 calendar years, inclusive. new-onset active records were estimated. Differences by sociodemographic groups, also evaluated.There 976 incident records. total study cohort 0.278 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 0.26-0.295). By age, highest 19- 34-year-old age bracket (0.503 person-years: 95% 0.453-0.554). lower females than males (IRR 0.763, p < 0.001, 0.673-0.865). Among records, 520 prevalent point at 31/12/2020 0.13% (1.26 persons; 1.15-1.37).This first epidemiology (incidence prevalence) health-care through large-scale database analysis. Incidence findings consistent earlier estimates other regions.