Prevalence of Vitiligo and Identification of Risk Factors in Young Patients

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is a skin pigmentation disorder characterized by areas of depigmentation so that patients have white spots on the skin. Objective: This study was enrolled clinical outcomes related to vitiligo and determine primary risk factors affected young patients. Patients and methods: 90 patients with vitiligo were recruited, and their clinical data were collected in dermatology outpatient clinics in different hospitals in Iraq during the study period, which ranged from February 8, 2022, to November 26, 2023. Furthermore, we evaluated the prevalence of skin diseases on patient quality of life using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scale and assessed indicators of depression through the Beck scale. Results: We enrolled clinical outcomes of vitiligo, which include young patients with ages (11 – 14) years included 36 cases, overweight included 27 cases, and obesity with 18 cases; the rate of patients who have comorbidities were 80%, which contains thyroid disorders was 40%, rheumatoid arthritis was 30%, systemic lupus erythematosus was 20%, inflammatory bowel disease was 60%, anxiety was 70%, depression was 40%, family history was 54.44%, duration of disease (years) which < 3 was 59 cases, while ≥ 3 was 31 cases, affected body parts included head and face had 58.89%, hands, and feet had 51.11%, and generalized had 55.56%, depigmented areas classified into mild with 18, moderate with 27 cases, and severe with 45 cases, skin disorders affect a patient’s Vitiligo quality of life which include .exceptionally huge effect was 31 cases, very significant effect was 26 cases. Conclusion: Vitiligo has a major physical and psychological impact on young patients, affecting both their quality of life as well as their self-esteem