title: Obesity and low-grade inflammation among young Finnish men with early-onset alopecia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous investigations have revealed an association of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), especially in younger subjects with severe early-onset AGA, with ischemic heart disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the possible association between early-onset alopecia and low-grade inflammation measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) that has been recommended for the assessment of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of young men (n = 727, aged 25-34 years) participating in a national survey. The grade of alopecia was assessed by a trained nurse using the Norwood/Hamilton Classification Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men with moderate to extensive alopecia (17%) had a higher body mass index and larger waist, upper arm, hip and waist circumference than those with little to no alopecia (p < 0.05), and statistically insignificant differences were seen in the waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), diastolic blood pressure and hs-CRP. With increasing hs-CRP, the mean WHR increased, but only among men with moderate to extensive alopecia (p = 0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show a relation between moderate to extensive alopecia and low-grade inflammation--a predictor of a future CVD--especially combined with central obesity, among men younger than 35 years.
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, Oulu, Finland. paivi.hirsso@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hirsso
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rajala
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jokelainen
authors.forename: Sirkka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Näyhä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein