Vitiligo Point Prevalence in Children and Adolescents in the United States

There were more than 591 000 cases of vitiligo in children and adolescents in the United States in 2020, with more than two-thirds having nonsegmental vitiligo and about half possibly undiagnosed, according to a study published in Dermatology.

Researchers conducted an online, population-based survey made up of a nationally representative sample of individuals based on 2017 US Census Bureau estimates for age, race, Hispanic origin, income, and geographic region from December 2019 to March 2020. Additionally, parent or legal guardian proxies responded on behalf of their children or adolescents to vitiligo screening questions adjudicated by expert dermatologists who reviewed photographs of vitiligo lesions uploaded by proxies utilizing a teledermatology application. The estimated point prevalence, which included diagnosed and undiagnosed vitiligo in addition to its subtypes, was calculated for proxy-reported and clinician-adjudicated vitiligo.

About 9118 eligible proxy responses were recorded, comprising 5209 children (mean age 7.7 years) and 3909 adolescents (mean age 14.4 years). Findings showed that proxy-reported vitiligo prevalence for children was 1.52% (1.11-1.93) and for adolescents, 2.16% (1.66-2.65). For clinician-adjudicated vitiligo, prevalence was 0.84% (0.83-1.23) and 1.19% (1.18-1.74), respectively. Roughly 69% of children and 65% of adolescents had nonsegmental vitiligo (clinician adjudicated) and about 50% were possibly undiagnosed.

“Based on the clinician-adjudicated prevalence estimates, there were more than 591 000 cases of vitiligo in children and adolescents in the US in 2020. More than two-thirds had nonsegmental vitiligo and nearly half may be undiagnosed. Future studies should confirm these findings,” concluded the authors.

Reference
Patel R, Pandya AG, Sikirica V, et al. Prevalence of vitiligo among children and adolescents in the United States. Dermatology. Published online January 11, 2023. doi:10.1159/000528180