A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON THE ASSOCIATION OF COMORBIDITIES IN ADULT FEMALE PATIENTS WITH VITILIGO IN TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE, KOLAR

Abstract

ACKGROUND:- Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder with well-defined macules and patches, which is characterized by depigmentation due to loss of melanocytes. The worldwide prevalence varies from 0.4% to 2.0%, with a slight preponderance of females. The woman being affected two times more than males may be attributed to their healthseeking behaviour for cosmetic reasons. The cause is considered to be multifactorialautoimmune, cytotoxic, biochemical, oxidant-antioxidant, viral, and neural mechanism in genetically predisposed people. It has shown to be associated with several autoimmune diseases both systemic and cutaneous conditions. OBJECTIVES: - 1) To assess association of co-morbidities in adult female patients with vitiligo. 2) To evaluate various clinical patterns in adult female vitiligo patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS:- A total of 53 patients with vitiligo who attended the Dermatology OPD at R.L Jalappa Hospital attached to Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College between January 2020 and July 2021 were included in the study. Data was collected after obtaining written informed consent from the patient. In every case detailed history and thorough clinical examination was carried out. Information about age of onset, site of onset, duration, history including family history, history of associated diseases, any associated symptoms use of any drugs before onset of illness, any aggravating factors, any spontaneous re-pigmentation were noted down. The data was entered in Microsoft excel sheet, a master chart was prepared xiv and it was analysed using IBM SPSS software version 22. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:- Most of the study population (35.8 %) who came to the Dermatology OPD were 21-30 years. Age of onset varies from 8 years to 53 years of age. Majority 43.4% had duration of the disease >10 years. Positive family history was seen in 18.9% of the patients and most of them were first-degree relatives. 41.5% of the patients had vitiligo vulgaris. 43.4% of the participants had associated comorbidities among which Hypothyroidism was seen in 24.52%, Diabetes mellitus in 9.43%, Hypertension in 5.66%, Leukotrichia in 5.66%, Alopecia areata in 3.77%, Guttate Psoriasis in 1.8% and canitis in 1.8%. Koebner’s phenomenon was seen in 18.9%. Legs was the most common site involved (35.8%). Spontaneous repigmentation was seen in 18.9% of the patients. 31.8% of the vitiligo vulgaris patients had associated comorbidities. CONCLUSION:- In this study, 43.4 % of all female adult patients with vitiligo had associated comorbidities. Among all co-morbidities, hypothyroidism (24.52%) was the most common associated condition. These associated co-morbidities were frequently observed in vitiligo vulgaris patients than in any other clinical types of vitiligo. Early screening for those diseases is essential to start early diagnosis and prompt treatment, especially in patients with vitiligo vulgaris.