Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Alopecia Areata in Colombia: Data from the First National Registry

OBJECTIVES: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder with high impact on mental health and health-related quality of life. This disease is poorly characterized in Latin America and research efforts to improve the knowledge of its epidemiology, risk factors and health-care practices are unmet needs. We sought to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and treatment patterns of patients with Alopecia Areata (AA) in Colombia

METHODS: Observational, descriptive, and multi-centric study developed in four cities of Colombia (Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cali and Cartagena). The data used derived from the first phase of the National Registry of patients with Alopecia Areata in Colombia (RENAAC). This data was collected between March and September 2022. Absolute and relative frequencies were estimated.

RESULTS: A total of 479 patients were included, 60.4% women, aged between 15 and 49 years (64.7%) and mean evolution time of 1.7 years. The most common observed type of plaque was multiple (54.9%), and the predominant AA subtype was patchy (74.5%). Most common body locations were scalp (96%) and face (17.3%). Ungual compromise was scarce (8,6%). Males had an earlier diagnosis of AA (30,7 years-old, SD 15.1) than female patients (37.2 years-old, DE 17.2) Most common clinical antecedents were of endocrinological (17.5%) and psychiatric type (8.8%). Treatments most used were corticosteroid infiltration (64.9%), minoxidil (43.0%), and high potency topical corticosteroids (35.9%).

CONCLUSIONS: In this Colombian registry of AA, a slightly predominance in females and a younger diagnosis in males was observed. Age of AA onset was similar to that reported in United States and greater than Asian rates.