Epidemiology and disease burden of androgenetic alopecia in college freshmen in China: A population-based study.

Shuping Zhang,Hongfu Xie,Zhixiang Zhao,Ji Li,Yicong Liu,Kenji Hashimoto,Xiang Chen,Minxue Shen,Yan Tang,Fanping He

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263912

Shuping Zhang, Hongfu Xie + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263912

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the epidemiology and disease burden of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in college freshmen in China.MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional survey was carried out among 9227 freshmen of two comprehensive universities in two cities of China (Changsha and Xiamen) from September 2018 to October 2018. Questionnaires covering basic issues, surrounding demographic information, history of diseases, living habits, comorbidities, etc. were completed online in a self-reported manner Dermatological examination was performed by certified dermatologists. The disease burden of AGA, which includes health-related quality of life, symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression and quality of sleep, was measured by EQ-5D-3L, PHQ-2, GAD-2 and PSQI, respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of AGA in college freshmen in China was 5.3/1000. Male was significantly associated with higher prevalence of AGA (7.9/1000, P<0.01) while female with lower risk of AGA (OR = 0.29, P = 0.002). There was no significant association between BMI and AGA, nor predilection of AGA in the Han nationality or the other ethnic minorities. Annual household income or parental highest educational level exerted no significant influence on the prevalence of AGA. Rosacea (OR = 3.22, P = 0.019) was significantly associated with higher prevalence of AGA while acne seemed not to be related to AGA. The scores of EQ-5D, GAD-2, PHQ-2 and PSQI were not significantly different between students with and without AGA.ConclusionThe onset of AGA in Chinese college freshmen differ between genders and was significantly associated with rosacea.

Highlights

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss in the world and is usually caused by multiple factors
Male was significantly associated with higher prevalence of AGA (7.9/1000, P
There was no significant association between body mass index (BMI) and AGA, nor predilection of AGA in the Han nationality or the other ethnic minorities

Summary

Introduction

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss in the world and is usually caused by multiple factors. AGA is distributed in genetically susceptible men and women in specific patterns-male pattern and female pattern hair loss (MPHL and FPHL). The onset of AGA is related to androgen hyperactivity and genetic factors, while female AGA may have a more complex etiology which is not well understood [3, 4]. AGA is affecting about 0.2– 2% of all the populations in the world and the prevalence of AGA is known to differ between genders and races [5,6,7]. A epidemiological surveys in China reported that the prevalence of AGA increased from 2.8% and 1.3% in men and women aged 18–29 to 41.4% and 11.8% aged older than 70 [5]. No previous study has been performed focusing on the epidemiology of AGA in the college students

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