Heterogeneity in Depression and Suicidality Risk Among Vitiligo Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Adolescent Complexity and Subgroup Stratification.
Yanbin Chen, Yongyi Xie, Mingyuan Xu et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis assessed depression and suicidality in people with vitiligo, drawing on 73 studies identified through searches of four databases. The pooled prevalence of depression was 0.37 (95% CI, 0.30-0.45). Compared with non-vitiligo controls, patients with vitiligo had higher odds of depression (OR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.05, 2.43]) and suicide-related outcomes (OR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.05, 1.41]); suicidal ideation showed the greatest increase (OR = 2.05, 95% CI [1.08, 3.90]). Subgroup findings varied by sex and age, and continuous depression scores were not significant after publication bias correction.
Key findings
- Pooled depression prevalence among patients with vitiligo was 0.37 (95% CI, 0.30-0.45).
- Compared with non-vitiligo controls, depression odds were higher (OR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.05, 2.43]), as were odds of suicide-related outcomes (OR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.05, 1.41]).
- Suicidal ideation had the greatest reported increase versus controls (OR = 2.05, 95% CI [1.08, 3.90]).
- Adolescents with vitiligo had higher depression risk than age-matched controls (OR = 2.84), but lower risk than adults within the vitiligo population (OR = 0.20).
Why it matters
The pooled findings indicate that depression and suicide-related outcomes are relevant components of the burden associated with vitiligo. Variation across subgroups, including the contrasting adolescent comparisons, cautions against treating risk as uniform. Awareness of these mental health associations can inform a more comprehensive understanding of patient well-being alongside the skin condition.
What to keep in mind
The meta-analysis combines studies with differing populations and reference groups; the abstract also reports that continuous depression-score findings were not significant after publication bias correction.