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 anal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical science (1979) Vol. 100; no. 4; p. 401
Main Authors: Ellis, J A, Stebbing, M, Harrap, S B
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England 01.04.2001
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Alopecia - complications
Alopecia - pathology
Alopecia - physiopathology
Anthropometry
Blood Pressure - physiology
Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology
Cholesterol - blood
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Phenotype
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index
ISSN:0143-5221
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary: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.
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ISSN:0143-5221
DOI:10.1042/CS20000203