Is androgenetic alopecia a marker of arrhythmia?: A case-control study

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is one of the most common types of hair loss. Histopathological evidence of chronic inflammation in patients with AGA has prompted investigations into the potential increased cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to investigate the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and potential conduction disorders in male patients diagnosed with AGA using both echocardiographic (ECHO) and electrocardiographic (ECG) assessments. This case -control study included 40 male patients diagnosed with AGA and 40 male controls, aged between 18 and 50 years. All participants in both groups underwent comprehensive cardiological examination by a specialist cardiologist and were evaluated using ECG and ECHO. Examination of ECG parameters showed that P-wave dispersion (Pdis) was significantly higher in the patient group (P = .016). Additionally, the shortest and corrected QT interval (QTc min) was significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (P = .031). No significant difference was found between the patient and control groups in terms of ECO measurements (all P >.05). There was a moderately positive correlation between disease duration and Pdis (r = .365) and between disease stage and Pmax, Pdis, QTc min, and QTc max (r = .490, r = .499, r = .445, and r = .432, respectively). This study concluded that male patients with AGA exhibited an increased risk of developing arrhythmias, as indicated by elevated Pdis and reduced QTc min values. In this context, ECG may serve as a useful screening tool for conduction abnormalities in male with AGA. We suggest that patients with AGA may benefit from closer cardiac monitoring and cardiology consultations, especially regarding rhythm disorders.