Recognition Gap Between Patient and Physician on Disease Severity and Treatment Satisfaction Level for Alopecia Areata

The study identified a recognition gap between patients with alopecia areata (AA) and their physicians regarding disease severity and treatment satisfaction. Data from 587 AA patients and 97 dermatologists revealed discrepancies, particularly in the perception of severity, with 81% of S2 and 51% of S3 patients being categorized as "moderate" by physicians despite being defined as severe by guidelines. The concordance rate for disease severity was 76%, while treatment satisfaction was 55%. Notably, 86% of S5 patients reported higher satisfaction than their physicians, suggesting that even minor hair regrowth improved patient satisfaction. The study highlighted unmet needs in managing severe AA in Japan, with dissatisfaction often linked to unmet pre-treatment expectations.