Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39831416›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of dermatology2025

Clinical patterns of vitiligo in Japan: A descriptive study using the JMDC claims database.

Atsushi Tanemura, Yue Ma, Masayo Sakaki-Yumoto, Shintaro Hiro, Tomohiro Hirose, Tamio Suzuki

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Atsushi TanemuraDepartment of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5239-8474
Yue MaSpecialty Care Medical Affairs Japan, Pfizer Japan Inc., Tokyo, Japan.
Masayo Sakaki-YumotoSpecialty Care Medical Affairs Japan, Pfizer Japan Inc., Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8781-452X
Shintaro HiroStatistics Research & Data Science, Pfizer R&D Japan, Tokyo, Japan.
Tomohiro HiroseSpecialty Care Medical Affairs Japan, Pfizer Japan Inc., Tokyo, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9569-6834
Tamio SuzukiDepartment of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.

Funding

Pfizer Japan Inc.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder that profoundly impacts patients' quality of life. Real-world data on vitiligo in Japan are limited. This descriptive, cross-sectional study used a claims database to evaluate vitiligo prevalence, patient demographics, treatments, and comorbidities in Japanese patients with vitiligo. Patients with claims for a vitiligo diagnosis in the JMDC database from January 2010 to December 2022 were included. Annual vitiligo prevalence, comorbidities, treatments, and medical facility visits were analyzed. Of 16 947 087 patients in the database during the 13-year analysis period, a total of 26 358 patients (0.16%, 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.16) had a diagnosis of vitiligo. The standardized prevalence of vitiligo by sex and age in Japan remained generally consistent between 2010 (0.051%) and 2022 (0.056%). Atopic dermatitis was the most prevalent comorbidity. Comorbid atopic dermatitis prevalence increased between 2010 (21.8%) and 2022 (34.0%), and was highest among children aged 5-9 years. Other common comorbidities in 2022 included hypertension (10.4%), dyslipidemia (8.0%), anxiety disorder (7.4%), and psoriasis (7.0%). Topical corticosteroids were the most commonly used treatment throughout the period analyzed. Between 2010 and 2022, topical corticosteroid use decreased from 75.1% to 66.9%, and the use of narrowband ultraviolet B procedures increased from 19.2% to 28.1%. Mean duration of care was 12.9 months (standard deviation 20.5 months) and the median total number of outpatient medical facility visits was 3.0 (interquartile range 1.0-12.0). Key limitations include age and occupational biases in the JMDC database and potential misclassification of comorbidities due to off-label treatment coding. Despite limitations in using a claims database, this study demonstrates consistent vitiligo prevalence in Japan, a high comorbidity burden, and evolving treatment patterns. Findings may guide clinical practice and treatment guidelines to improve management of vitiligo in Japanese patients.

Indexed as

VitiligoAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesDatabases, FactualDermatitis, AtopicFemaleHumansInfantJapanMaleMiddle Agedautoimmune diseasecomorbidityJapanpigmentation disordersvitiligo

Identifiers

PMID39831416
PMCPMC12056275

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.