Abstract / Summary
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune disease characterized by nonscarring hair loss, yet real-world data on AA in Mexico are sparse. This study aimed to characterize disease burden and identify unmet treatment needs among patients with AA in Mexico. Clinical data were analyzed from Adelphi Real World’s AA II Mexico Disease Specific Programme™ (October 2024–April 2025), a linked physician and patient cross-sectional survey with retrospective elements. Dermatologists provided clinical and treatment information for eight consecutive patients with AA within prespecified severity quotas (three mild, three moderate, and two severe/very severe). Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Alopecia Areata Patient Priority Outcomes instrument, and the Skindex-16 AA questionnaire. Analyses were stratified by physician-assessed AA severity (mild, moderate, severe/very severe). Of the 319 patients included, 123 had mild, 112 moderate, and 84 severe/very severe AA. Disease duration, percent scalp hair loss, nonscalp hair loss (eyebrow, eyelash, and body), and hair regrowth at consultation differed significantly across severity groups. Traditional medications, such as intralesional, topical, and oral corticosteroids, were the most frequently prescribed treatments across all severity groups. Physician-reported satisfaction with current treatment decreased with increasing AA severity and was significantly different across severity groups (P < 0.0001). Overall, 23.0% of patients with moderate AA and 29.0% with severe/very severe AA reported satisfaction with their current treatment and believed the best control had been achieved compared with 60.6% of patients with mild AA (P < 0.0001). Patients with severe/very severe AA experienced greater quality-of-life impairment and higher rates of anxiety and depression. This study helps address the gap in real-world evidence on AA in Mexico. The reliance on traditional therapies, combined with low treatment satisfaction among physicians and patients with moderate to very severe AA, suggests a need for improved access to advanced therapies within the Mexican healthcare system. Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease that causes hair loss on the scalp as well as on the face and body. Even though AA affects many people around the world, not much is known about the experiences of patients living with AA in Mexico. In this study, doctors and their patients with AA in Mexico completed surveys that asked about patients’ experiences, the current treatments patients used, how satisfied the patients and their doctors were with treatment, and how AA affected the patients’ daily life. The study included 319 patients; 123 had mild AA, 112 had moderate AA, and 84 had severe/very severe AA. Patients with severe/very severe AA tended to have had AA for longer, have more hair loss on their head, face, and body, and have less hair regrowth after a doctor visit than patients with moderate or mild AA. Most patients were treated with traditional steroid medications instead of newer treatments. Only a small number of patients with moderate to very severe AA felt satisfied with their current treatment and believed the best control had been achieved. Patients with severe/very severe AA had higher rates of anxiety and depression and greater impacts on their daily lives than patients with mild or moderate AA. Overall, the study showed that the impact of AA and people’s experiences with treatment may be different depending on how severe their disease is. In addition, people with more severe AA faced greater challenges and may benefit from better access to newer treatments.