ImportanceAlopecia areata (AA) is characterized by nonscarring hair loss of the scalp, face, and/or body. Alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) involve complete loss of the scalp and body hair, respectively. The epidemiology of AA in the US remains unclear, having previously been extrapolated from older studies that were limited to specific geographic areas or clinical settings, or from self-reported data.ObjectiveTo estimate the annual prevalence and incidence of AA and AT and/or AU (AT/AU) in the US.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective, population-based cohort study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2019 and included enrollees in the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental databases and their dependents, with plan enrollment during each study calendar year and the year prior.ExposuresPrevalent cases were identified by 1 or more claims for AA or AT/AU (International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-10-CM] codes L63.x, L63.0, L63.1) during each year of interest or the year prior. Incident cases were identified by 1 or more claims for AA or AT/AU during a specific year and no diagnosis the year prior.Main Outcomes and MeasuresAnnual incidence and prevalence rates were calculated and stratified by age, sex, and region. National employer-sponsored insurance population estimates were obtained using population-based weights.ResultsAmong eligible patients (2016: n = 18 368 [mean (SD) age, 40.6 (17.9) years; 12 295 women (66.9%)]; 2017: n = 14 372 [mean (SD) age, 39.6 (17.7) years; 9195 women (64.0%)]; 2018: n = 14 231 [mean (SD) age, 38.9 (17.3) years; 8998 women (63.2%)]; 2019: n = 13 455 [mean (SD) age, 39.1 (17.4) years; 8322 women (61.9%)]), AA prevalence increased from 0.199% (95% CI, 0.198%-0.200%) in 2016 to 0.222% (95% CI, 0.221%-0.223%) in 2019. Roughly 5% to 10% of prevalent and incident cases of AA were AT/AU. The prevalence of AT/AU increased from 0.012% (95% CI, 0.012%-0.013%) to 0.019% (95% CI, 0.018%-0.019%) from 2016 to 2019. Incidence of AA per 100 000 person-years ranged from 87.39 (95% CI, 86.84-87.96) in 2017 to 92.90 (95% CI, 92.35-93.45) in 2019. Incidence of AT/AU ranged from 7.09 (95% CI, 6.94-7.25) in 2017 to 8.92 (95% CI, 8.75-9.09) in 2016. Prevalence and incidence of AA and AT/AU were higher among female vs male individuals, adults vs children and adolescents, and in the Northeast vs other regions.Conclusions and RelevanceThe results of this cohort study suggest that these recent AA prevalence and incidence estimates could help improve current understanding of the disease burden. Further research is warranted to elucidate subpopulation differences and trends in AA in the broader US population.

Background Etrasimod is an investigational, once-daily, oral, selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1,4,5 (S1P1,4,5) modulator in development for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). Although ≈30% of UC patients initially present with isolated proctitis, most phase 3 trials of systemic therapies in UC excluded this subgroup. We report the efficacy and safety of etrasimod in subjects with isolated proctitis enrolled in the ELEVATE UC programme. Methods In ELEVATE UC 52 (NCT03945188) and ELEVATE UC 12 (NCT03996369), subjects (16-80 years) with moderately to severely active UC were randomised 2:1 to once-daily etrasimod 2 mg or placebo (PBO). ELEVATE UC 52 comprised a 12-week induction period followed by a 40-week maintenance period with a treat-through design. ELEVATE UC 12 comprised a 12-week induction period. Both trials allowed inclusion of subjects with isolated proctitis (<10 cm rectal involvement) provided they met all other eligibility criteria (enrolment capped at 15%). Predefined endpoints were assessed at week 12 (data pooled from both studies) and week 52 (UC 52 only). Sustained and corticosteroid (CS)-free clinical remission were assessed at week 52 (UC 52 only). Changes from baseline in rectal bleeding (RB) were assessed using pooled data through week 12, and UC 52 data from week 14 through week 52. Urgency Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was assessed at baseline, week 12 (pooled), and week 52 (UC 52 only). Results This analysis included 64 pooled subjects with isolated proctitis at week 12 (42 etrasimod, 22 PBO) and 36 subjects from UC 52 at week 52 (27 etrasimod, 9 PBO). Greater proportions (P<0.05) of subjects randomised to etrasimod vs PBO achieved clinical remission, endoscopic improvement, symptomatic remission, and endoscopic improvement-histologic remission at week 12 and week 52 and clinical remission and symptomatic remission at week 52 (Figure 1). Differences were also observed in sustained clinical remission and 12-week CS-free clinical remission at week 52. Etrasimod demonstrated numerical decreases in RB subscores as early as week 2 through week 52 (Figure 2). Improvement (P<0.05) in urgency NRS were observed at week 12 (Figure 3). Safety was consistent with results from the overall trial populations. Conclusion Efficacy and safety of etrasimod in subjects with isolated proctitis was consistent with the overall population of the ELEVATE programme.1 The analysis was performed on a small dataset and should be interpreted with caution but informs on the efficacy of etrasimod in a subpopulation of UC subjects commonly excluded from drug development trials. Reference: 1. Sandborn WJ, et al. Presented at: DDW 2022; May 24, 2022. Abstract 968a.

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