Race, Ethnicity Influences Depression Risk in Vitiligo

Medscape

4 days ago

TOPLINE:
In a study, Black and Hispanic patients with vitiligo were at a significantly greater risk for depression than control individuals, which was not the case for White and Asian patients with vitiligo.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of 1087 patients with vitiligo using electronic health records from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Program between 2018 and 2024.
They were compared with 5435 individuals without vitiligo, matched by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and insurance status.
In both groups, the mean age was 63.2 years; about 63% were women; 49% were White, 19% were Black, 3% were Asian, and 24% were Hispanic patients.
The primary outcome was risk for depression after adjusting for comorbidities such as autoimmune and thyroid diseases, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and diabetes.
TAKEAWAY:
Overall, patients with vitiligo showed an increased risk for depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16-1.54) compared with those without vitiligo.
Black patients with vitiligo had more than a twofold higher risk for depression (aOR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.55-2.91) than Black patients without vitiligo.
Hispanic patients also had a significantly higher risk for depression (aOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09-1.94), and non-Hispanic patients were also at a higher risk for depression (aOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.52) than Hispanic and non-Hispanic control individuals without vitiligo, respectively.
The risk for depression in White individuals (aOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.85-1.29) and in Asian individuals with vitiligo (aOR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.15-2.38) was not significantly increased when compared with White and Asian patients without vitiligo, respectively.
IN PRACTICE:
'These findings underscore significant variation in the mental health burden of vitiligo across racial and ethnic groups,' the study authors wrote. 'Black and Hispanic patients with vitiligo,' they added, 'experience significantly elevated depression risk, potentially reflecting greater lesion visibility, cultural stigma, and differences in access to mental health and dermatologic services.'
SOURCE:
The study was led by Matthew J. Yan, BS, BA, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and was published online on August 5 in JAAD International.
LIMITATIONS:
The study did not assess vitiligo lesion visibility, treatment details, or age of onset. Sample sizes for Asian patients were small and could limit generalizability.
DISCLOSURES:
The study did not receive any funding. One author disclosed receiving research support, advisory, and speaker fees from AbbVie, Amgen, Almirall, Arcutis, ASLAN, Beiersdorf, BI, BMS, EPI, Incyte, LEO, UCB, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Ortho, Sun, Dermavant, Dermira, Sanofi, Takeda, Regeneron, and Pfizer.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.