Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients with Plantar Warts: a Single-center Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Plantar wart is a common dermatologic disease encountered in outpatient clinics. Clinical trials for the treatment of plantar warts have been conducted, but only a few studies have focused on the epidemiological factors of plantar warts. Objective: This study aims to analyze the epidemiological factors for plantar warts in Korean individuals at a single institution. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients with plantar warts at Chosun University Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022. Results: A total of 176 patients were included in this retrospective study. Plantar warts are more common in younger ages, and men tend to have higher rates of plantar warts than women (M:F = 3:1). The patients showed a higher incidence of plantar warts during winter (29.0%), of which 74.4% were urban residents. 6.3% of patients had warts after trauma. Plantar warts were also observed in 66 of the 504 household members of the patients. The most common locations of wart lesions were in the forefoot (73.3%), followed by the toes (60.8%), midfoot (22.2%), and heel (18.2%). Moreover, the location of the lesions was almost equal, most often on the right side (34.7%), followed by the bilateral (33.5%) and left sides (31.8%). Conclusion: This study offers valuable information about the epidemiological factors of plantar warts in South Korea. These contents will be used for lifestyle education to prevent the recurrence of plantar warts.