ABSTRACT
Review of literature revealed that Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) or Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) are closely associated. Few studies showed an increased incidence of certain factors such as family history of CAD, family history of baldness, hypertension, increased Body Mass Index (BMI), central obesity, hyperglycaemia, and dyslipidaemia in all men with MPB, which were considered as cardiovascular risk factors. Recently newer risk factors such as Serum Lipoprotein a (SL-a), serum homocysteine (SH), and serum adiponectin are reported. A meta-analysis study showed that vertex type of baldness is more commonly associated with CAD. We wanted to study the association between androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular risk factors in male patients with history of hair fall and family history of coronary artery disease.METHODSThis study was done among 136 men aged between 20 and 65 years with the history of hair fall and a family history of coronary artery disease. In all the subjects, blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded. Lipid profile and fasting blood sugar were done. Other parameters such as weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, and the pattern of baldness were documented.RESULTSIn majority of the subjects, 42.6 % belonged to the age group of 45-65 years with mean age of 48.63 years. Vertex type of baldness was observed in 78 persons constituting 57.3%. Among the grades of baldness, Grade - IV, V, and VI baldness were observed in majority of the subjects in the age group of 31-40 years. 73.0 % of persons with vertex type had positive family history of baldness and family history suggestive of ischemic heart disease. All subjects with vertex type had more cardiovascular risk factors in comparison to none type such as total Cholesterol, low LDL, high VLDL, and TC/HDL more than 5 and diabetes. Hence vertex type may be considered as a marker for the evaluation of well-known cardiovascular risk factors.CONCLUSIONSAll persons having history of hair fall and MPB especially vertex type should be evaluated for the well-known cardiovascular risk factors and should be advised to have periodical tests to be done to reduce the co-morbidity associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors.