New findings show that male-pattern baldness and premature graying of hair put men under 40 at risk for heart disease.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity are just some of the “traditional” risk factors for developing heart disease; however, new studies suggest that two other risk factors should be added to the list: male pattern baldness and prematurely graying hair.
The results of the study, led by researcher Kamal Sharma, from the Department of Cardiology at the Mehta Center of the UN Institute of Cardiology and Research in Ahmedabad, India, were presented at the 69th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India , held in Calcutta, India.
The experts examined 790 men under 40 years of age with coronary artery disease and 1,270 healthy men of the same age as control subjects . They assessed the participants’ health using an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, blood test, and coronary angiogram.
Male baldness was analyzed using a score ranging from 0 (no baldness) to 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), or 3 (severe). Participants were scored after examining up to 24 views of their scalp. A percentage of gray and white hairs was determined. They also examined his angiographic lesions , which represent a marker of coronary artery disease.
The link between baldness, graying hair, and injury severity in both the heart disease and control groups showed that half of the men with coronary heart disease had gray hair, compared with just 30% of the men with coronary heart disease. healthy men. And, nearly half of the men (49%) had baldness, compared to 27% of the men in the healthy group or control group.
Baldness increased the risk of coronary artery disease by 5.6 times and premature aging by 5.3 times. By comparison, obesity increased the risk of heart disease by just over 4 times.
Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, a family history of heart disease, a high body mass index (BMI), high triglycerides, and smoking also predicted coronary artery disease.
“ The incidence of coronary artery disease in young men is increasing but cannot be explained by traditional risk factors. Premature aging and male pattern baldness correlate well with vascular age regardless of chronological age, and are risk factors plausible for coronary artery disease “, explains Sachin Patil, co-author of the work.
“ Men with premature gray hair and androgenic alopecia should receive additional monitoring for coronary artery disease and advice on lifestyle changes, such as healthy diet, exercise, and stress management,” says Kamal Sharma, 1st. study author.
However, according to Dhammdeep Humane, a causal relationship needs to be established before statins (drugs used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides) need to be recommended for men with baldness or premature aging.
Reference: Dhammdeep Humane et al. Male-pattern baldness and premature graying associated with risk of early heart disease. 69th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India, held in Kolkata, India. 2017
