Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025
A New Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Hair Loss in Mice Using Grayscale Analysis
Published on: March 9, 2015
Association between alopecia areata and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Jiawei Lu1, Xuechen Cao1, Yifei Feng1
1Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Insights
Alopecia areata (AA) patients, particularly those with severe forms like alopecia totalis or universalis, face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This link may stem from shared inflammatory pathways, warranting further investigation into cardiovascular health in AA patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Dermatology
- Autoimmune Disorders
Background:
- Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune condition causing patchy hair loss.
- Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between AA and cardiovascular disease (CVD), though this relationship requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the association between alopecia areata and cardiovascular disease.
- To investigate potential differences in CVD risk based on AA subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of four major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) up to December 2024.
- Inclusion of cohort and case-control studies evaluating the AA-CVD relationship.
- Meta-analysis using a random-effects model to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Main Results:
- Five studies comprising 238,270 patients revealed a significantly increased odds of CVD in AA patients (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.0 to 2.92).
- Patients with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis showed a markedly higher risk (OR = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.65 to 8.73).
- No significant association was found between patch-type AA and CVD, nor specifically with ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction.
Conclusions:
- Alopecia areata, especially severe forms, is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Systemic inflammation in AA may contribute to atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular risk.
- Further research is essential to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Background:
Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss. Epidemiological observations and molecular studies collectively suggest an underrecognized interplay between AA and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between them remains controversial and requires further investigation.
Objective:
To evaluate the association between AA and CVD through a meta-analysis of combinable results.
Methods:
We systematically searched four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for relevant studies from inception to December 6, 2024. Studies included in the analysis were cohort or case-control studies that focused on the relationship between AA and CVD. Two independent reviewers extracted the data. The study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results:
Our search yielded five studies involving 238,270 AA patients from three countries. The meta-analysis revealed that AA patients had an increased OR (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.0 to 2.92; p < 0.01) for CVD outcomes compared to the control group. Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger risk in patients with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis (OR = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.65 to 8.73; p < 0.01). Associations were not observed between patch-type AA and CVD, nor between AA and ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction.
Conclusions:
This meta-analysis suggests that AA patients, especially those with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis, may have an elevated risk of developing CVD. Given the shared immunological mechanisms, systemic inflammation in AA may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular risk. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms.
More Related Videos
10:11Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies
Published on: October 22, 2014
13:07Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:23Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy