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. 2016 Sep 27;11(9):e0163806.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163806. eCollection 2016.

The Prevalence of Vitiligo: A Meta-Analysis

Yuhui Zhang  1 , Yunfei Cai  1 , Meihui Shi  1 , Shibin Jiang  1 , Shaoshan Cui  2 , Yan Wu  1 , Xing-Hua Gao  1 , Hong-Duo Chen  1
Affiliations

The Prevalence of Vitiligo: A Meta-Analysis

Yuhui Zhang et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the prevalence of vitiligo.

Methods: Literatures that reported prevalence rates of vitiligo were identified using EMBASE, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database and Weipu database for the period from inception to May 2016. We performed stratified analyses on possible sources of bias, including areas difference, years of publication, gender and age. Publication bias was assessed with Egger's test method.

Results: A total of 103 studies were eligible for inclusion. The pooled prevalence of vitiligo from 82 population- or community-based studies was 0.2% (95%CI: 0.1%-0.2%) and from 22 hospital-based studies was 1.8% (95%CI: 1.4%-2.1%). A relatively high prevalence of vitiligo was found in Africa area and in female patients. For population- or community-based studies, the prevalence has maintained at a low level in recent 20 years and it has increased with age gradually. For hospital-based studies, the prevalence has showed a decreased trend from 60s till now or from young to old. No significant publication bias existed in hospital-based studies (t = 0.47, P = 0.643), while a significant publication bias existed in population- or community-based studies (t = 2.31, P = 0.026).

Conclusion: A relatively high prevalence of vitiligo was found in Africa area and in female patients. The prevalence has maintained at a low level in recent years. It showed an inverse trend with age increment in population- or community-based studies and hospital-based studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow diagram of the study selection process.
Flow diagram of the study selection process.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Forest plot of prevalence from population- or community-based studies.
Forest plot of prevalence of vitiligo from population- or community-based studies from 1964 to 2015.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Forest plot of prevalence from hospital-based studies.
Forest plot of prevalence of vitiligo from hospital-based studies from 1977 to 2014.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Funnel plot assessing publication bias: (a) population- or community-based published studies; (b) hospital-based published studies.
Funnel plot assessing publication bias in the prevalence of vitiligo from: (a) 82 population- or community-based published studies; (b) 22 hospital-based published studies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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