Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease that has an underlying immuno-inflammatory pathogenesis and is characterized by nonscarring hair loss ranging from small patches to complete scalp (alopecia totalis [AT]), face, and body hair loss (alopecia universalis [AU]). Studies describing the epidemiology of AA, especially measuring the occurrence of AA within the general population, are scarce. This was a historical population-based cohort study in Denmark that estimated incidence rate (IR) and prevalence of hospital-treated AA among persons 12 years or older. Data from several population-based nationwide health and administrative registries (1995-2016) were linked on individual level. The AA incident cohort included 2,778 patients. Sixty percent of the patients were between 18 – 50 years old at first-recorded hospital AA diagnosis, and women comprised 63% of the cohort. During the study period, the IRs per 100,000 persons were 2.6 [95% confidence interval: 2.5-2.7] for any AA; 0.5 [0.4-0.5] for AT/AU; and 2.2 [2.1-2.3] for non-AT/AU. In 1995-2016, the prevalence per 100,000 persons was 82 [79-84] for any AA; 24 [22-25] for AT/AU, and 70 [68-73] for non-AT/AU. The prevalence of AA was 16 [15-17] in 1995 and 74 [72-77] in 2016. The observed increase in prevalence may be partially related to recording practices.

ESDR066 - Incidence rates and prevalence of hospital-treated alopecia areata in Denmark (1995-2016)

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