title: [Prevalence of partially treated supralabial hirsutism in dictators].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated whether heads of state commonly regarded as dictators have a higher prevalence of partially treated supralabial hirsutism (PTSLH), commonly called a moustache, than non-dictatorial states.
  
  
  METHODS
  retrospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  the world political arena from 1901 to 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  cohort of 139 dictators, 122 preceding political leaders in the respective countries, 122 succeeding political leaders also in the respective countries, as well as 76 Nobel peace prize laureates as controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  none.
  
  
  METHODS
  the prevalence of PTSLH was 122 preceding political leaders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 139 dictators 49 (35%) demonstrated photographic evidence of PTSLH, while 85 (61%) did not. Of 48 preceding leaders 22 (46%) had PTSLH (p = 0.18 compared to dictators); of 33 following leaders ten (30%) had PTSLH (p = 0.59 compared to dictators). Finally of 78 Nobel peace prize laureates 31 (40%) had PTSLH (p = 0.47 compared to dictators).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most dictators did not have PTSLH. Moreover, the prevalence of PTSLH among dictators did not differ from controls. These data do not lend support to the commonly held notion that PTSLH is a predictor of a future dictatorial political career. Electorates the world over can now support political candidates with PTSLH without increased fear of becoming victims of a dictatorial system or having an increased risk of mortality after their ascent to power.
authors.affiliation: Afdelingen for kirurgisk videnskab, Afsnittet for anæstesiologi og intensiv terapi, Akademiska Sjukhuset, 751 85, Uppsala, Sverige. mlipcsey@eml.cc
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipcsey
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wanek
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castegren
authors.forename: Else
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tønnesen
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellomo
mesh_terms: D006197:Hair; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D011056:Political Systems; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies