Trends in Prevalence and Incidence of Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Universalis Among Adults and Children in a US Employer-Sponsored Insured Population

JAMA Dermatology, 2023

An Analysis Group team, in collaboration with researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Pfizer, have published a study determining the annual rates of alopecia areata (AA) in the US, as well as alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU). AA is an autoimmune condition characterized by nonscarring hair loss of the scalp, face, and/or body, with AT and AU indicating complete loss of scalp hair and body hair, respectively. While most previous studies assessing the epidemiology of AA and AT/AU have been restricted to a particular geographic region or clinical setting, this study’s aim was a broader assessment of the disease’s true incidence and prevalence in the US.

The researchers, including Managing Principal Elyse Swallow, Vice President Wei Gao, Manager Nicolae Done, and Senior Analyst Travis Wang, performed a retrospective, population-based cohort study drawing on four years of claims data from commercially insured patients. The study indicated that AA incidence was higher than previous clinical estimates, with a more pronounced burden among female individuals, adults, and residents of the Northeast.

Given the significant disease burden of AA and its subtypes, the authors suggest that the comprehensive scope of this study could increase understanding of the disease burden and inform health policy and decision making.

The study, “Trends in Prevalence and Incidence of Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Universalis Among Adults and Children in a US Employer-Sponsored Insured Population,” appeared in JAMA Dermatology in March 2023.

Read the study

Authors

Mostaghimi A, Gao W, Ray M, Bartolome L, Wang T, Carley C, Done N, Swallow E