Shaving, coronary heart disease, and stroke: the Caerphilly Study

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Men's Health

Background:

• The frequency of shaving has not been extensively studied in relation to mortality and disease.
• Understanding lifestyle factors and their impact on health outcomes is crucial for preventative medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between shaving frequency and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, coronary heart disease events, and stroke events.
• To explore potential confounding factors and underlying mechanisms, including hormonal influences.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study of 2,438 men aged 45-59 years was conducted.
• Data on shaving habits, lifestyle, social factors, and health outcomes were collected over a 20-year follow-up period.
• Statistical analyses, including hazard ratios, were used to assess the relationships, adjusting for multiple variables.

Main Results:

• Men who shaved less frequently were more likely to smoke, have angina, and work in manual occupations.
• Infrequent shaving was associated with increased all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.24) and cardiovascular disease mortality (hazard ratio: 1.30).
• A significant association was found between infrequent shaving and stroke events (hazard ratio: 1.68), which was not explained by smoking or social factors.

Conclusions:

• Infrequent shaving is linked to higher mortality, likely confounded by smoking and social factors, though a hormonal effect cannot be ruled out.
• The increased risk of stroke associated with infrequent shaving warrants further investigation.
• This study highlights the importance of considering seemingly minor lifestyle habits in health risk assessments.