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.
Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
J A
JA
Ellis
M
M
Stebbing
S B
SB
Harrap
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