Korean J Dermatol.  2024 May;62(4):206-217.

Disease Awareness, Medical Use Behavior, Diagnosis and Treatment Status, Quality of Life and Comorbidities in Primary Cicatricial Alopecia Patients: A Multicenter Survey

• Song SW
• Lee DG
• Kang H
• Lew BL
• Choi JW
• Kwon O
• Lee YW
• Kim BJ
• Lee Y
• Park J
• Kim MB
• Kim DY
• Kim SS
• Park BC
• Lee SH
• Choi GS
• Shin HT
• Huh CH
• Jang YH
• Seo SH
• Jeon J
• Park HS
• Won CH
• Kim MS
• Ro BI
• Lee JH
• Lee JH
• Yu DS
• Woo YR
• Kim H
• Kim JE

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.

Keyword

Alopecia; Surveys and questionnaires; Questionnaire