Disease Awareness, Medical Use Behavior, Diagnosis and Treatment Status, Quality of Life and Comorbidities in Primary Cicatricial Alopecia Patients: A Multicenter Survey
- Author:
Seo Won SONG
1
;
Dong Geon LEE
;
Hoon KANG
;
Bark-Lynn LEW
;
Jee Woong CHOI
;
Ohsang KWON
;
Yang Won LEE
;
Beom Joon KIM
;
Young LEE
;
Jin PARK
;
Moon-Bum KIM
;
Do Young KIM
;
Sang Seok KIM
;
Byung Cheol PARK
;
Sang Hoon LEE
;
Gwang Seong CHOI
;
Hyun-Tae SHIN
;
Chang Hun HUH
;
Yong Hyun JANG
;
Soo Hong SEO
;
Jiehyun JEON
;
Hyun Sun PARK
;
Chong Hyun WON
;
Min Sung KIM
;
Byung In RO
;
Ji Hyun LEE
;
Ji Hae LEE
;
Dong Soo YU
;
Yu Ri WOO
;
Hyojin KIM
;
Jung Eun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2024;62(4):206-217
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:EN
-
Abstract:
Background:Primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA) is a rare disease that causes irreversible destruction of hair follicles and affects the quality of life (QOL).
Objective:We aimed to investigate the disease awareness, medical use behavior, QOL, and real-world diagnosis and treatment status of patients with PCA.
Methods:A self-administered questionnaire was administered to patients with PCA and their dermatologists. Patients aged between 19 and 75 years who visited one of 27 dermatology departments between September 2021 and September 2022 were included.
Results:In total, 274 patients were included. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.47, with a mean age of 45.7 years. Patients with neutrophilic and mixed PCA were predominantly male and younger than those with lymphocytic PCA. Among patients with lymphocytic PCA, lichen planopilaris was the most common type, and among those with neutrophilic PCA, folliculitis decalvans was the most common type. Among the total patients, 28.8% were previously diagnosed with PCA, 47.0% were diagnosed with PCA at least 6 months after their first hospital visit, 20.0% received early treatment within 3 months of disease onset, and 54.4% received steady treatment. More than half of the patients had a moderate to severe impairment in QOL. Topical/intralesional steroid injections were the most common treatment. Systemic immunosuppressants were frequently prescribed to patients with lymphocytic PCA, and antibiotics were mostly prescribed to patients with neutrophilic PCA.
Conclusion:This study provides information on the disease awareness, medical use behavior, QOL, diagnosis, and treatment status of Korean patients with PCA. This can help dermatologists educate patients with PCA to understand the necessity for early diagnosis and steady treatment.
