Abstract
BackgroundAlopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune disorder worldwide that affects the hair. Population differences have been observed in disease prevalence and clinical features, but no studies have examined AA prevalence at a large scale. In Saudi Arabia, information is lacking about AA characteristics.ObjectivesA quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess AA prevalence, characteristics, and gender differences in Saudi Arabia.Materials and methodsThe study has used a validated Arabic questionnaire that targeted Saudi Arabia residents with a history of AA.A validated Arabic questionnaire was used to target Saudi Arabia residents with a history of AA, and the data collection instrument and written informed consent were distributed on Twitter and Facebook after permission from the Institutional Review Board. Prior to the study, accuracy validation for correct diagnosis by participants was performed in a 50-volunteer pilot test, which indicated an acceptable level of 96% accuracy. The questionnaire included high-quality images of different AA types and the collected data focused on variables such as the age of onset, affected body parts, treatment type, and family history of AA.ResultsA total of 5,362 participants returned completed questionnaires, of whom 741 (13.8%) had experienced AA at least once in their lives. Most were aged 11-30 years (69%), and the mean age of diagnosis was 18.6 years. Thirty-six percent (36%) of those with AA reported having a first-degree relative with the disease, and cross-sectional prevalence was 5.2%. Three-hundred fifty-nine (359; 18.9%) males and 382 (11%) females had AA. Twenty-nine point four percent (29.4%) of AA patients recovered in less than three months of AA onset, and 59.4% recovered in less than one year.ConclusionAA prevalence in Saudi Arabia is higher than in Western countries with a lower age of onset than in the former. AA affected males more than females and the mean age of onset was lower in the latter. Both male gender and young age of onset implied a worse prognosis.
Highlights
Alopecia areata (AA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by non-scarring hair loss in circular-to-oval areas, which is mostly reversible [1,2]
No previous studies have examined the epidemiology of AA in Saudi Arabia, but the literature is rich in research projects indicating that AA is a common disease worldwide with varying prevalence rates and early age of onset [9,10,11,12,13,14]
Our results indicate that AA onset was earlier in females, that better prognosis is linked to the female gender, and younger age of onset was associated with a worse prognosis
Summary
Alopecia areata (AA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by non-scarring hair loss in circular-to-oval areas, which is mostly reversible [1,2]. The management of AA patients is challenging because there is no cure or proven effective therapy for the disorder [4]. It is a relatively common disease with a lifetime incidence of approximately 2%, but first-degree relatives of AA patients often have a higher lifetime risk of 24% [5,6,7]. Despite the high incidence and significance of this disorder, no previous studies have been conducted to determine AA prevalence in Saudi Arabia. How to cite this article Al-Ajlan A, Alqahtani M, Alsuwaidan S, et al (September 10, 2020) Prevalence of Alopecia Areata in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.
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