Male androgenetic alopecia: population-based study in 1,005 subjects

Male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common condition. There is limited information on its prevalence and patterns.

(1). To find the prevalence and most common pattern (2). To correlate the age and pattern of alopecia.

Population-based study.

This is a population-based study from the public. The selection was random. The method involved was asking the age and, if found to between 30 and 50 years, the scalp was examined for alopecia and the pattern was determined using the Hamilton Norwood classification.

Of 1,005 subjects, the youngest was 30 years old and the oldest 49 years old, with a mean age of 37.05 ± standard deviation 4.79. 39.2% of the subjects were in the age group of 30-35, 34.4% in the 36-40 year age group, 26.0% in the 41-45 years age group and 0.4% in the 46-50 years age group. Five hundred and eighty-three subjects (58%) had AGA, the most common type being grade II (27.27%) followed by grade I (22.12%) and grade III (21.78%). 47.5% (P = 0.003) had pattern alopecia in the 30-35 years age group, 58.7% in the 36-40 years age group (P = 0.8) and 73.2% in the 41-45 years age group (P ≤ 0.001). In the 30-35 years age group, grade I was 51.18%, grade II was 42.77% and grade VI was 18.52%. In the 41-45 years age group, grade I was 13.38%, grade III was 33.85% and grade VI was 66.67%.

Fifty-eight percent of the male population aged 30-50 years had AGA. Its grade increased with increase in age. 12.9% of the male population had grades IV to VI, and would benefit from hair transplantation while 44.1% had grades I to III and are potential candidates for medical treatment.