The Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients with Vitiligo: A Cross-Sectional Study

Vitiligo is the most common depigmenting disorder worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of ۰.۵% to ۲%. Few studies have assessed its epidemiology in Iran, and none specifically in Ardabil Province. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the epidemiological profile of vitiligo patients in Ardabil during the second half of ۲۰۲۲. All patients suspected of vitiligo and referred to a dermatology health center were clinically examined by a dermatologist. Those with a confirmed diagnosis completed a checklist covering variables such as age, sex, occupation, marital status, education, residence, family history, patient complaints, lesion site and pattern, and systemic diseases. Two hundred vitiligo patients participated, including ۱۰۴ women (۵۲%) and ۹۶ men (۴۸%). The highest frequency was among those over ۴۰ years (۲۸%). Most patients (۹۴%) lived in urban areas, with ۴۳.۵% from Ardabil Province. A positive family history was reported in ۲۹% of cases. The most common involvement sites were upper extremities (۷۶.۵%), lower extremities (۶۰%), and head/face (۵۸%). Lesion patterns were generalized (۷۵.۵%), focal (۲۰%), and segmental (۴.۵%). Fourteen percent had systemic diseases, primarily hypertension (۶%), thyroid disorders (۴%), and diabetes (۲.۵%). The study identified nearly equal gender distribution and an increasing disease frequency with age. Most patients were unemployed or housewives, married, and had education up to diploma level. Urban residence predominated. Family history and generalized lesion patterns were common. Hypertension and thyroid disorders were the most frequent comorbidities among Ardabil vitiligo patients.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vitiligo patients ، Epidemiology ، Lesion patterns