B Sigurgeirsson1, R Baran. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a common disorder, and high prevalence figures are commonly cited in the literature. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence of onychomycosis based on published studies. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified in Medline by using specific search criteria. RESULTS: Eleven population-based and 21 hospital-based studies were identified. The mean prevalence in Europe and North America was 4.3% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.9-6.8] in the population-based studies, but it was 8.9% (95% CI: 4.3-13.6) for the hospital-based studies. Both population-based and hospital-based studies showed that onychomycosis is more common in toenails and is seen more frequently in males. The main causative agent was a dermatophyte in 65.0% (95% CI: 51.9-78.1) of the cases. Trichophyton rubrum was the single most common fungus and was cultured on average in 44.9% of the cases (95% CI: 33.8-56.0). Moulds were found on average in 13.3% (95% CI: 4.6-22.1) and yeasts in 21.1% (95% CI: 11.0-31.3). LIMITATIONS: We may not have been able to locate all studies. CONCLUSIONS: Onychomycosis is a common disorder, but it may not be as common as cited in the literature, because hospital-based studies might overestimate the prevalence of onychomycosis. It is more frequent in males, and toenails are more commonly affected. Dermatophytes, particularly T. rubrum, are the main causative agents.
BACKGROUND:Onychomycosis is a common disorder, and high prevalence figures are commonly cited in the literature. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence of onychomycosis based on published studies. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified in Medline by using specific search criteria. RESULTS: Eleven population-based and 21 hospital-based studies were identified. The mean prevalence in Europe and North America was 4.3% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.9-6.8] in the population-based studies, but it was 8.9% (95% CI: 4.3-13.6) for the hospital-based studies. Both population-based and hospital-based studies showed that onychomycosis is more common in toenails and is seen more frequently in males. The main causative agent was a dermatophyte in 65.0% (95% CI: 51.9-78.1) of the cases. Trichophyton rubrum was the single most common fungus and was cultured on average in 44.9% of the cases (95% CI: 33.8-56.0). Moulds were found on average in 13.3% (95% CI: 4.6-22.1) and yeasts in 21.1% (95% CI: 11.0-31.3). LIMITATIONS: We may not have been able to locate all studies. CONCLUSIONS:Onychomycosis is a common disorder, but it may not be as common as cited in the literature, because hospital-based studies might overestimate the prevalence of onychomycosis. It is more frequent in males, and toenails are more commonly affected. Dermatophytes, particularly T. rubrum, are the main causative agents.
Authors: Min Chen; Yuan Xu; Nan Hong; Yali Yang; Wenzhi Lei; Lin Du; Jingjun Zhao; Xia Lei; Lin Xiong; Langqi Cai; Hui Xu; Weihua Pan; Wanqing Liao Journal: Front Med Date: 2018-01-11 Impact factor: 4.592