Epidemiology of vitiligo in the Russian Federation: national data on the prevalence and regional variability (2024)

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by skin depigmentation due to a complex interaction of genetic predisposition, oxidative stress, impaired melanocyte adhesion and dysregulated immune response. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, large-scale epidemiological data on the incidence and prevalence of vitiligo have been lacking in the Russian Federation to date. The study objective is to perform the first national epidemiological monitoring of vitiligo among children and adults in the Russian Federation in 2024. Based on the data obtained from 81 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, it was established that the registered prevalence is 15.4 cases per 100 000 in adults and 36.0 cases per 100 000 in children, which is significantly lower than global estimates (0.36—0.67%). A pronounced regional heterogeneity was revealed: from 2.6 cases (Kaliningrad region) to 56.3 cases (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area) per 100 000 in adults. In Moscow, a steady increase in the incidence (from 3.48 to 7.22 cases per 100 000 in 2019—2024) and a predominance of men among adult patients are noted — a tendency that is atypical for global practice. The findings likely indicate underreporting of cases in national statistics and emphasize the need for standardized epidemiological monitoring in order to improve diagnosis, treatment and social support for patients with vitiligo in Russia.