A Retrospective Statistical Analysis of Vitiligo Exacerbation after COVID-19 Vaccination in China

Abstract

At present, COVID-19 vaccination is an effective method to stop the spread of the epidemic and reduce disease severity and mortality. It has been reported that COVID-19 vaccine can activate several autoimmune diseases. However, whether it can affect development of vitiligo remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the possible risk factors of vitiligo disease activity or recurrence after COVID-19 vaccination. We recruited 383 vitiligo patients, of whom 126 were not vaccinated and 257 had received the COVID-19 vaccine. Vitiligo disease activity (VIDA) score was used to analyze key risk factors of vitiligo in patients who underwent COVID-19 vaccination. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the risk factors associated with VIDA. Compared with patients without history of undergoing vaccination, the VIDA score of vaccinated patients increased significantly (3(2, 4) vs. 3(2, 3) scores, $P<0.01$ ). Logistic regression analysis identified COVID-19 vaccination (odds ratio (OR): 3.040, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.649–5.603) as an independent risk factor for VIDA. The data showed that COVID-19 vaccination aggravated the development of vitiligo, which is a key risk factor for recurrence.