A study of clinical profiles of vitiligo in different ages: an analysis of 669 outpatients

• Published in: International journal of dermatology Vol. 53; no. 7; pp. 842 - 848
• Main Authors: de Barros, Juliano Cesar, Filho, Carlos D'Apparecida Santos Machado, Abreu, Luiz Carlosde, de Barros, Jefferson Alfredo, Paschoal, Francisco Macedo, Nomura, Mariliza Tiemi, Marques, Elaine, Martins, Lourdes Conceição
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Age of Onset; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Facial Dermatoses - epidemiology; Female; Hand Dermatoses - epidemiology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Retrospective Studies; Vitiligo - epidemiology; Vitiligo - psychology; Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology; Young Adult; Brazil
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1111/ijd.12055

Introduction Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by achromic macules (white) on the skin and/or mucous membranes, which affects 0.5–2% of the population. Few publications address a vitiligo epidemiological profile worldwide. In Brazil there are only studies in children. Objective To assess the clinical and epidemiological profile of individuals affected by vitiligo and to evaluate behavior of the disease in different age groups. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective cross‐sectional study in 669 patients with vitiligo from January 2001 to May 2006, who attended the Faculty of Medicine of ABC, located in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. Results There was a predominance of females (62.2%) and adult age group (62.5%), with higher prevalence peaks between the second and third decades of life (18.3% and 16.9%, respectively). The most frequent phototype in skin was III (49.9%). Lesions began on the face most commonly in children and adolescents (32.6%) and the elderly (23.3%), and on hands in adults (24.0%). There was a higher prevalence of segmental vitiligo in children and adolescents (36.4%), compared with adults (11.3%) and the elderly (6.7%), and vitiligo with stable evolution was proportionately more frequent in childhood and adolescents (46.2%) than in adults (32.5%) and elderly (36.7%). Conclusions Our findings are similar to other countries, mainly regarding the higher prevalence of segmental vitiligo and vitiligo with stable development among children and adolescents.