Tinea versicolour in underrepresented groups: An All of Us database analysis

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Mycology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Pityriasis versicolour (PV) is a superficial fungal infection caused by Malassezia furfur.
• PV thrives in specific conditions like high temperature/humidity, immunocompromise, and pregnancy.
• Previous studies suggest racial disparities in PV burden, but data on other underrepresented groups is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and burden of pityriasis versicolour (PV) in diverse and historically underrepresented populations.
• To address the gap in understanding PV's impact on communities excluded from traditional biomedical research.
• To utilize the National Institute of Health All of Us Research Program database for health disparity research.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging the All of Us Research Program (AoU) database, a large and diverse dataset.
• Analyzing epidemiological data to assess PV prevalence across various demographic groups.
• Focusing on underrepresented populations often excluded from prior dermatologic studies.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings indicate a higher burden of PV in certain underrepresented racial groups compared to White patients.
• Further analysis is ongoing to quantify PV prevalence in other underrepresented communities.
• The AoU program provides a unique opportunity to examine health disparities in PV.

Conclusions:

• PV disproportionately affects certain underrepresented groups, highlighting existing health disparities.
• The All of Us Research Program is crucial for understanding and addressing these disparities.
• Future research should focus on equitable inclusion in dermatologic studies to better serve all populations.