Androgenic Alopecia and Metabolic Syndrome

P.R. China: Androgenic alopecia (AGA) patients are at an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, and appropriate screening and counseling may be warranted, according to a meta-analysis in the journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica.

Several studies have investigated the association of androgenetic alopecia with metabolic syndrome but have yielded conflicting results. Yaping Li from the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, P.R. China, and colleagues, therefore, conducted a meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate the risk grade of metabolic syndrome and the metabolic profile in patients with androgenetic alopecia compared with controls. A total of 19 articles consisting of 2,531 participants met the inclusion criteria.

It is important for physicians to screen metabolism-related indicators in patients with androgenetic alopecia. More rigorously designed studies and larger sample sizes are required in future studies.

Key Findings of the Study

• The pooled odds ratio for the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome between the group with androgenetic alopecia and controls was 3.46.
• Female sex, early-onset, and African ethnicity were associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.
• Patients with androgenetic alopecia had significantly poorer metabolic profiles, such as body mass index, waist circumference, fasting glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure.

"The dermatologists should educate patients that the data in literature associating AGA and MetS are trending positively," the authors wrote. "The need for a complex workup should be addressed on a case-to-case basis as there are no society guidelines."

"The assessment of the patient's clinical picture should be done including already existing metabolic data such as insulin resistance, weight, lipid, and blood pressure levels," they explained. "Dermatologists should work with primary care colleagues to ensure that proper screening measures are completed and that each patient's unique metabolic circumstances are addressed."

To sum up, it is important for physicians to screen metabolism-related indicators in androgenetic alopecia patients. More rigorously designed studies and larger sample sizes are needed in future studies.

Reference

Qiu, Y., Zhou, X., Fu, S., Luo, S., & Li, Y. (2022). Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Androgenetic Alopecia. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 102, adv00645. https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v101.1012