Abstract:
Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss in men and women. Previous studies showed a relationship between androgenetic alopecia and certain disorders including insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and coronary artery disease. These studies focused on insulin resistance, elevated blood pressure and dyslipidemia which are components of metabolic syndrome. Also, metabolic syndrome is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Several studies revealed that male androgenetic alopecia are related to metabolic syndrome. However, only two studies have been reported the correlation in female patients. In Thai population, only one study depicted the association between early-onset androgenetic alopecia and metabolic syndrome in men but there is no data in women yet.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association between female androgenetic alopecia and metabolic syndrome in Thai population.
Methods: A case-control study recruited 130 Thai female patients. Ages started at 40 years old. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: 65 subjects with androgenetic alopecia and 65 control subjects from the check-up clinic. Data were collected by taking history, physical examination and laboratory investigation. All participants were assessed to find metabolic syndrome. The definition of metabolic syndrome was defined by three or more positive criteria according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII, 2001). The waist circumferences criteria was modified by WHOs proposed waist circumference cut-off point for Asians.
Results: Patients with androgenetic alopecia had a 3.97 fold higher risk of metabolic syndrome than those without androgenetic alopecia (95%CI 1.89-8.34; p<0.001). There was no association between severity of androgenetic alopecia and metabolic syndrome (p=0.854).
Conclusion: Androgenetic alopecia is associated with metabolic syndrome in Thai women. Screening patients with androgenetic alopecia for metabolic syndrome will help decrease a risk of cardiovascular disease.