Comorbid Bronchial Asthma, Atopic Dermatitis, and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Are Risk Factors for Early-Onset, Severe, and Prolonged Alopecia Areata

A study of 2,657 Central European patients with alopecia areata (AA) identified comorbid chronic inflammatory disorders (CIDs) such as atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis as significant risk factors for early-onset, severe, and prolonged AA. Among participants, 53.7% reported at least one CID, with atopic dermatitis (26.7%), bronchial asthma (13.4%), and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (6.1%) being the most common. Those with these comorbidities experienced more severe and prolonged AA, and the onset of AA occurred nearly 10 years earlier in patients with multiple atopic conditions. The study emphasizes the role of the Th2-immune axis in AA's pathobiology and the importance of considering CID comorbidity in AA prognosis and management.