STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME IN ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA- A HOSPITAL BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Manish Batham; Surendra Singh Bhati; Charu Ramnani; Tarun Patidar

Manish Batham
Surendra Singh Bhati
Charu Ramnani MD Dermatology
Tarun Patidar

Keywords: androgenetic alopecia, metabolic syndrome, alopecia, non scarring alopecia, cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Androgenetic alopecia, the most common type of progressive hair loss in males and females, is a type of non-scarring alopecia which is also known as pattern baldness or pattern hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is an androgen-dependent condition influenced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the androgen receptor (AR) in hair follicles. Genetic factors also play a role in its development. Male pattern baldness has been linked to several health issues, including coronary artery disease, insulin resistance, hypertension, an abnormal serum lipid profile, obesity, prostate cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Elevated androgen levels may also contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis, which can lead to hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. The risk intensifies with the number of metabolic syndrome components present.

Methods: Present study was a cross-sectional study done to study prevalence of metabolic syndrome in androgenetic alopecia. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 100 cases and 100 controls were recruited in the study and after taking informed consent data were collected using pre tested semi structured questionnaire.

Results: MS was present in 24% of study participants. Metabolic syndrome was found more in patients who had longer duration of AGA. The majority of patients with metabolic syndrome had AGA for a longer duration (25-36 months). There was a statistically significant association between MS and AGA duration. The majority of patients with metabolic syndrome had grade V AGA, according to the findings. However cross-sectional studies such as ours cannot establish a temporal relationship between AGA and Metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion: The study findings suggest that there is a signification association between severity of AGA and MS. Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia were found to be more common in AGA patients. There was an association between MS and AGA, which could explain why people with androgenic alopecia are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.