Epidemiological, Clinical, and Economic Burden of Alopecia Areata in Spain: A Real-World Retrospective Study - The PETALO Study

The PETALO study investigated the epidemiological, clinical, and economic burden of alopecia areata (AA) in Spain using data from 5,488 patients. In 2021, the point prevalence of AA was 0.44% overall, with higher rates in adults (0.48%) compared to children (0.23%). The incidence rate for adults was 0.55 per 1,000 patient-years. Among 3,351 adults with AA, 53.4% were female, with a mean age of 43.1 years, and 41.6% had comorbidities. Systemic treatment was limited, with only 2.7% of adults using it. The study highlighted significant healthcare costs, primarily from laboratory tests and professional visits, averaging €821.2 per patient in the first year post-diagnosis. The findings indicate a comparable prevalence of AA in Spain to other countries, with a notable burden of comorbidities and an unmet need for effective treatments.