THE INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF ACNE VULGARIS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: A POPULATION-BASED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD STUDY (2004-2024)
Author(s)
Jaidev Kaur Chandan, PhD1, Illin Gani, MSc1, Samuel Cusworth, MSc1, Ben Hammond, MSci1, Christian Billinghurst, MPH2, Caroline Eteve-Pitsaer, MSc3, Neil Cockburn, PhD4, Saran Shatikumar, PhD1, Joht Singh Chandan, Prof.5.
1University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 2Dexter, Northampton, United Kingdom, 3Cegedim Health data - Clinityx by Gers Data, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, 4University of Warwick, Warwick, United Kingdom, 5University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
1University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 2Dexter, Northampton, United Kingdom, 3Cegedim Health data - Clinityx by Gers Data, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, 4University of Warwick, Warwick, United Kingdom, 5University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: Acne vulgaris (acne), a chronic inflammatory dermatological condition, affects individuals across all age groups and is associated with considerable psychosocial burden. Understanding its incidence and prevalence is critical for health system planning and resource allocation. Despite previous global epidemiological efforts, significant gaps remain in the UK-specific literature, particularly regarding population-based estimates across the full life course, demographic stratification by age, sex and ethnicity, and long-term trends in primary care settings.
METHODS: A population-based open cohort study was conducted using electronic health records from The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a large UK primary care database, spanning 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2024. Data extraction, transformation, and loading were accomplished using the Dexter tool. The study aimed to estimate the incidence and point prevalence of acne, describe temporal trends over the 20-year study period, and examine demographic variation by age, sex, and ethnicity. Annual incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) and annual point prevalence estimates (per 100,000 population) were calculated and stratified by sex, age group, and ethnicity. Direct standardisation was applied to calculate age- and sex-standardised rates.
RESULTS: This study included 10,409,442 eligible patients. Acne prevalence more than doubled over the study period, increasing from 2,786.52 to 6,284.03 per 100,000 population. Incidence remained broadly stable (467.87 to 497.94 per 100,000 person-years), though a marked decline was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely reflecting reduced healthcare-seeking behaviour. Demographic variation was evident, with the highest rates observed among adolescents and young adults, females, and White individuals.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the considerable and enduring burden of acne across the life course within UK primary care, with disease burden persisting well into adulthood. They address an important gap in UK-specific epidemiological evidence, contextualising global burden estimates within a real-world primary care setting, though under-recording likely means the true population burden is underestimated.
METHODS: A population-based open cohort study was conducted using electronic health records from The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a large UK primary care database, spanning 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2024. Data extraction, transformation, and loading were accomplished using the Dexter tool. The study aimed to estimate the incidence and point prevalence of acne, describe temporal trends over the 20-year study period, and examine demographic variation by age, sex, and ethnicity. Annual incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) and annual point prevalence estimates (per 100,000 population) were calculated and stratified by sex, age group, and ethnicity. Direct standardisation was applied to calculate age- and sex-standardised rates.
RESULTS: This study included 10,409,442 eligible patients. Acne prevalence more than doubled over the study period, increasing from 2,786.52 to 6,284.03 per 100,000 population. Incidence remained broadly stable (467.87 to 497.94 per 100,000 person-years), though a marked decline was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely reflecting reduced healthcare-seeking behaviour. Demographic variation was evident, with the highest rates observed among adolescents and young adults, females, and White individuals.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the considerable and enduring burden of acne across the life course within UK primary care, with disease burden persisting well into adulthood. They address an important gap in UK-specific epidemiological evidence, contextualising global burden estimates within a real-world primary care setting, though under-recording likely means the true population burden is underestimated.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EPH253
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Disease Classification & Coding, Public Health
Disease
Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)