Risks of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Individuals with Alopecia Areata: A Case-Control Study
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Published on: March 9, 2015
Yonit Wohl1,2,3, Annabel Maruani4,5, Yaara Lapid1
1Faculty of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
Abstract:
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune condition, affecting both physical and psychological well-being. IBD, encompassing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is marked by chronic intestinal inflammation. Since AA is associated with numerous autoimmune diseases, a potential link between AA and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been suggested, though evidence remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between AA and IBD using data from a nationwide retrospective cohort. This large population-based case-control study analyzed data from Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS), between 2005 and 2019. AA patients were matched to healthy controls in a 1:2 ratio by age and sex. The study included 100,203 individuals (33,401 AA cases and 66,802 controls). IBD was observed in 1.03 % of AA patients compared to 0.66 % of controls, demonstrating a significant association (OR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.35-1.79]). This association persisted across all age subgroups.
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