Risk Factors For Alopecia Research Articles

Screening and Risk Factors for Alopecia

Alopecia, characterized by the loss of hair in various patterns and extents, presents a diverse spectrum of conditions with distinct etiologies and therapeutic considerations. This comprehensive review explores the common types of alopecia encountered in primary care, including telogen effluvium, male-and female-pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, traction alopecia, and tinea capitis. Diagnostic approaches encompass careful history-taking, physical examination, and, when needed, advanced techniques like dermatoscopy. Treatment strategies vary based on the type of alopecia, ranging from topical applications to systemic therapies. Understanding risk factors such as age, genetics, ethnicity, and medication associations is pivotal for tailored interventions. The prevention of specific types of alopecia involves targeted measures, such as wearing cooling caps during chemotherapy to minimize hair loss. By considering these factors, individuals and healthcare providers can collaboratively navigate alopecia, optimizing patient outcomes and quality of life

Hairstyling Practices to Prevent Hair Damage and Alopecia in Women of African Descent.

Highly textured hair has been found to be more susceptible to breakage than other hair types due to an increased proportion of spirals and relatively fewer elastic fibers anchoring the hair follicles to the dermis. Women of African descent frequently employ hairstyles and hair treatments for ease of management and as a form of self-expression, but a number of these practices have been implicated as risk factors for alopecia. Herein, we provide an overview of hairstyles for patients with highly textured hair so that physicians may better identify high-risk hairstyles, provide individualized recommendations for safer alternatives, and manage and stop the progression of hair loss before it becomes permanent.

Incidence and risk factors for alopecia in survivors of critical illness: A multi-centre observational study

PurposeTo investigate the incidence, nature and risk factors for patient-reported alopecia in survivors of critical illness. Materials and methodsA multi-centre, mixed methods observational study in the intensive care units (ICU) of ten hospitals in Wales. All patients with an ICU stay of 5 days or more, able to give consent were included. Demographic variables and risk factors were collected. A pre-designed survey was completed at three months post-ICU discharge. Statistical analysis included numbers and percentages (categorical variables) and medians and interquartile ranges (continuous variables). Comparisons between patients with and without alopecia were made using Fisher's Exact test (categorical variables) and Mann Whitney U test (continuous variables). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for alopecia. ResultsThe survey was completed by 123 patients with alopecia reported in 44 (36%) patients. The only risk factor for alopecia on analysis was sepsis / septic shock (p < .001; OR: 5.1, 95%CI: 2.1–12.4). ConclusionsLimited research exists examining the incidence, nature and risk factors for patient-reported alopecia in adult survivors of critical illness. The results of this study highlight the need to discuss the potential for alopecia with survivors of critical illness, who had sepsis / septic shock.

Factors Predicting Docetaxel-Related Toxicity: Experience at a Single Institution

We studied factors predicting docetaxel-related toxicity in 113 unselected patients with metastatic cancer treated under routine daily practice. Docetaxel was administered in either a weekly, bi-weekly or tri-weekly schedule. All patients received prophylactic dexamethasone. Twenty-six patients were aged 70 or more, and 28 (24.8%) had an ECOG performance status (PS) score ≥2. Primary tumors were mainly in breast, lung, and stomach (58, 25, and 14 patients, respectively). Most patients had metastases at two or more sites and were heavily pretreated. NCI-CTC graded toxicities were mild. Grade 3/4 leucopenia and neutropenia occurred in 19.4% and 10.6% of patients, respectively, with febrile neutropenia in 2 patients. Severe nonhematologic toxicities were rare, except for asthenia (8 patients). Complete alopecia occurred in 26.6% of patients. A proportional-odds regression analysis demonstrated that the tri-weekly schedule and older age represented independent risk factors for all-grade leucopenia, whereas a poor PS for anemia. Primary tumor in breast, tri-weekly schedule, an abbreviated and low dose of corticosteroids premedication, and high duration and cumulative dose of docetaxel were factors predicting asthenia. Risk factors for alopecia and vomiting were tri-weekly schedule and high docetaxel cumulative dose, respectively. In conclusion, in daily clinical practice docetaxel toxicity may be correlated with factors related to patient, disease, and treatment characteristics. Taking into account these variables could be a first step toward individualizing treatment.