Vitiligo prevalence study in Shaanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND

Recent publications, especially those based on population surveys, show that the presumed vitiligo prevalence of 1-2% is overestimated.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain the vitiligo prevalence in Shaanxi Province, China, through a population survey.

METHODS

Approximately one-thousandth of the 36.05 million people in Shaanxi Province, China, were selected through stratified four-stage cluster sampling. They lived in 180 investigation units and all were investigated in a door-to-door survey. Vitiligo and suspected vitiligo patients were marked in the basic questionnaire. They were encouraged to complete a well-prepared questionnaire and send it back to the investigation center. The questionnaire assigned to the investigators contained questions about vitiligo characteristics, such as the area affected, number of areas, and whether or not the affected areas were covered by scurf. Professional dermatologists verified these results.

RESULTS

There were 42,833 people in 180 investigation units. The sex, residence, and educational level of these individuals were representative of the population of Shaanxi Province. The investigation team reported 43 vitiligo patients and 14 with suspected vitiligo. During the verification period, three patients and all those with suspected vitiligo were excluded. In total, there were 40 patients (17 women and 23 men). Eleven lived in urban areas and 29 in rural areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of vitiligo in Shaanxi Province is 0.093% (95% confidence interval, 0.067-0.127%). No significant difference was found between males and females or between urban and rural residents.