A study of the association of premature androgenetic alopecia with metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common form of patterned hair loss characterized by transformation of terminal hair of the scalp to vellous hair mediated mainly by androgens. Premature androgenetic alopecia can be defined as androgenetic alopecia developing before 35 years of age and presenting with at least stage 2 of Norwood-Hamilton classification. Premature AGA not only adds to psychological stress but is also reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and carcinoma prostrate. In many subsequent studies, AGA has been shown to be associated with several diseases such as insulin resistance (IR), abnormal serum lipid profiles and obesity.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">Various parameters of metabolic syndrome were measured in 75 male patients of AGA in the department of dermatology, Safdarjung hospital from June 2015 to April 2016. ECG and echocardiography was done in all patients to look for any evidence of premature coronary artery disease</span>.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">In our study grade III and IV of AGA were the most common types (32% each). We found the prevalence of metabolic syndrome to be 8% in our patients with premature androgenetic alopecia in accordance with the NCEP ATP III guidelines. There was a significant positive correlation between grade of androgenetic alopecia and metabolic syndorme in our patients (p=0.049). </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was not increased as compared to general population.</span></p>