Prevalence, severity and associated factor of androgenetic alopecia in the dermatology outpatient clinic: A retrospective study

---

Original Article

Author Details : Jagdish Sakhiya*, Dhruv Sakhiya, Mihir Modi, Suneil Gandhi, Feral Daruwala

Volume : 5, Issue : 4, Year : 2019

Article Page : 280-287

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijced.2019.060

Suggest article by email

Get Permission

---

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a patterned hair loss that occurs due
to systemic androgen and genetic factors. In both genders, it is the most common cause of hair loss.
Individual affected by AGA is suffering from social stigma, psychological distress and emotional misery.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of androgenetic alopecia in
the Indian population. Additionally, we have studied the association of family history, accompanying
systemic diseases, body mass index [BMI], alcohol consumption and smoking, menstrual cycle and
hyperandrogenemia with androgenetic alopecia in patients who were referred to our outpatient clinic.
Materials and Methods: The study included patients who referred to our clinic from November 2016
to October 2017. A total of 210 patients suffering from AGA were included in the study. To evaluate
the factors associated with AGA, a control group (non-AGA group, 50 patients) was organized. The
diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia was made upon clinical findings only. Patient’s age, gender, weight,
height, the pattern of hair loss, the history of other systemic diseases, family history of AGA, concomitant
hyperandrogenemia symptoms, alcohol consumption and smoking habits have been reported. Details
regarding the menstrual cycle have been recorded in women.
Results: The prevalence of androgenetic alopecia was 79% in men and 21% in women. Type I and II
were the most common type in men, and grade I was in women. In men, AGA prevalence (Men: n=166, r
=0.728, P =.164) was positively correlated with age but, a statistically significant difference could not be
obtained and, severity was positively correlated with age (n=166, r =0.174, P =.025). While, in women,
prevalence (n=44, r =0.020, P =.975) and severity (n=44, r =0.090, P =.575) was not correlated with
age. In the multivariate model, family history ( OR : 16.86, 95% CI : 5.14-55.30, P =.000) was statistically
significant covariates positively associated with AGA.
Study Limitations: Although other causes of alopecia are omitted, it is difficult to differentiate Ludwig
grade 1 AGA from telogen effluvium based on only clinical features.
Conclusions: AGA prevalence was higher than, the previous studies in Asians and Caucasians. In India,
type I and II was the most common type of AGA in males, while grade I was the most common type of
AGA in females. Family history seems to be a pivotal risk factor for AGA.

Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia, Prevelance, Severity, Factor.

How to cite : Sakhiya J, Sakhiya D, Modi M, Gandhi S, Daruwala F , Prevalence, severity and associated factor of androgenetic alopecia in the dermatology outpatient clinic: A retrospective study. IP Indian J Clin Exp Dermatol 2019;5(4):280-287

This is an Open Access (OA) journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.