Male pattern baldness is not associated with established cardiovascular risk factors in the general population.
A number of studies have shown an association between male pattern baldness (MPB) and cardiovascular disease. Few of these studies, however, have examined whether MPB is a novel risk factor, or is associated with abnormalities of established coronary risk factors. We have therefore performed an analysis of MPB and cardiovascular risk factors in the general population. A total of 1219 male participants aged 18-70 years from the Victorian Family Heart Study were surveyed using a validated questionnaire for degree and pattern of baldness. Carefully standardized measures of height, weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and plasma fibrinogen were made. Subjects were grouped according to the degree and pattern of baldness as: no baldness, frontal baldness and vertex baldness. Bald men were older than non-bald men (P < 0.0001). Age was also associated with increased levels of coronary risk factors (P < 0.0001). When multiple regression was used to adjust for age differences, the levels of coronary risk factors were not significantly different between the bald and non-bald groups. The lack of association between baldness and established coronary risk factors implies that baldness may predispose to coronary heart disease through novel mechanisms yet to be defined.
Ellis
J A
JA
Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Stebbing
M
M
Harrap
S B
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D002784:Cholesterol