Epidemiological insights into chronic urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and herpes zoster following COVID‐19 infection: A nationwide population‐based study

• Published in: Journal of dermatology Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 499 - 504
• Main Author: Kim, Min Hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2025
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alopecia; alopecia areata; Alopecia Areata - epidemiology; Alopecia Areata - virology; Baldness; Chronic infection; Chronic Urticaria - epidemiology; Chronic Urticaria - virology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Female; Herpes viruses; Herpes zoster; Herpes Zoster - epidemiology; Herpes Zoster - virology; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Population studies; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Reverse transcription; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Urticaria; Vitiligo; Vitiligo - epidemiology; Vitiligo - virology; Young Adult; Republic of Korea; vitiligo; herpes zoster; COVID‐19; alopecia areata; urticaria
• ISSN: 0385-2407; 1346-8138; 1346-8138
• DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.17600

The long‐term complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) continue to cause global concern. This study aimed to estimate the incidence and risk of chronic urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and herpes zoster following COVID‐19 infection. Only participants confirmed by real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction tests to have COVID‐19 were enrolled in the COVID‐19 group. The matched cohort without COVID‐19 was enrolled randomly at a ratio of 1:1. The incidence and risk of chronic urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and herpes zoster were assessed in both groups using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses. A total of 4 976 589 COVID‐19 patients (9.58% of the total population of South Korea) and an equivalent number of matched non‐infected control subjects were analyzed. Chronic urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and herpes zoster manifested at higher rates within the COVID‐19 cohort, even after multivariable adjustment for potential confounders. COVID‐19 may increase the risk of developing chronic urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and herpes zoster.