Race and Ethnicity Sub-Groups of Alopecia Areata Patients have Differing Clinical Characteristics: TARGET-DERM AA

Abstract

Introduction Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that disproportionately impacts particular subgroups.¹

Methods United States and Canadian clinics enrolled participants in the TARGET-DERM AA registry (December 2021 - June 2024, data collection ongoing). Those who completed a baseline patient questionnaire [self-reported race / ethnicity, Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGIS-AA)] and clinician-reported outcome measures [Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT), ClinRO Measure for Eyebrow / Eyelash Hair Loss] were summarized.

Results Of the 267 AA patients, 61.4% were female; 53.2% were adults, 28.5% identified as Hispanic, 52.1% Non-Hispanic (NH)-White, 8.6% NH Black and 6.4% as NH Asian. 47.1% of NH Asian patients had severe disease (SALT>50) and represented the group with the highest proportion of SALT>50, followed by 34.8% of NH Black, 31.7% NH White, and 19.7% Hispanic AA patients. 47.1% of NH Asian patients reported PGIS-AA ‘severe/very severe’ disease, 41.9% of NH White, 39.1% of NH Black and 27.6% of Hispanic AA patients. Eyebrow involvement was highest in NH Whites (44.6%), followed by NH Asian (41.2%), NH Black (34.8%), and Hispanic AA patients (26.3%). Eyelash involvement was highest in NH Black patients, followed by NH White, NH Asian, and Hispanic patients (39.1%, 34.7%, 35.3%, and 17.1%, respectively).

Discussion In this large real-world cohort, there are differences in clinician reported measures by race/ethnicity subgroups. NH-Asian patients represented the largest proportion of patients with patient and clinician-reported severe disease, and clinician-reported eyebrow / eyelash involvement was most prevalent in NH White patients. Hispanic patients had the smallest proportion with severe SALT, eyebrow and eyelash involvement. Additional research is required to better characterize AA and health-related quality of life burden in non-White AA patients.