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Published on: March 9, 2015
Male pattern baldness and prostate cancer risk in a population-based case-control study
Jonathan L Wright1, Stephanie T Page, Daniel W Lin
1Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States. jlwright@u.washington.edu <jlwright@u.washington.edu>
Cancer Epidemiology
|March 9, 2010
Summary
Early-onset male pattern baldness (MPB) may reduce prostate cancer (PCa) risk. This study found that men with hair loss at age 30 had a lower risk of developing PCa.
Area of Science:
- Andrology and Oncology
- Epidemiology of common diseases
Background:
- Male pattern baldness (MPB) and prostate cancer (PCa) are common, heritable, and androgen-related conditions.
- Previous studies on the MPB-PCa relationship have yielded inconclusive results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early-onset MPB and the risk of developing PCa.
- To explore this relationship using a population-based, case-control study design.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 999 PCa cases and 942 controls aged 35-74.
- Hair pattern at age 30 and at the referent date was assessed using showcards.
- Logistic regression was employed to evaluate PCa risk associated with balding patterns.
Main Results:
- Hair loss at age 30 was less prevalent in PCa cases (19.8%) compared to controls (25.2%).
- Men with hair loss at age 30 exhibited a 29% reduced relative risk of PCa (OR 0.71).
- A greater risk reduction was observed in older men (>60) with early-onset hair loss from both the scalp and forehead.
Conclusions:
- Early-onset MPB is associated with a reduced relative risk of PCa.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate potential mechanistic links between MPB and PCa.
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