One of the main cardiovascular events related to atherosclerosis is coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease.This disease occurs as a consequence of the accumulation of plaque inside the coronary arteries, that is, the two main arteries that supply blood that begins from the aorta of the heart.
Previous research has confirmed that aging is a risk factor for heart disease. Now, a new observational study – presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s EuroPrevent Conference 2017 – suggests that the amount of gray hair in adult men is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
To study this link between gray hair and heart disease, the researchers examined 545 adult men with a potential for coronary heart disease and divided them into various subgroups based on the amount of gray hair. They also underwent a CT scan.
The men’s gray hair was divided in such a way: 1 for black hair, 2 for much more black hair than white, 3 for black and white hair equally, 4 for whiter than black hair and 5 for completely white hair. Each participant was evaluated by two independent observers and received a score on the intensity of their gray hair.
In addition, the researchers collected clinical data on the participants’ cardiovascular disease risk factors , such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia (high blood cholesterol levels), and a family history of cardiovascular disease.
The experts used multivariate regression analysis finding that age, degree of hair bleaching, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia independently predicted atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
Thus, patients with coronary artery disease had a higher hair whitening score and increased levels of coronary artery calcification compared to the other groups. Specifically, having a lot of gray hair or a high degree of hair whitening (level 3 or higher according to the scale of the study), was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. This correlation was independent of age or cardiovascular disease risk factors.
“The findings suggest that, regardless of chronological age, hair aging indicates biological age and could be a warning sign of increased cardiovascular risk. More research is needed on skin signs of risk that would allow us to intervene earlier in the process of cardiovascular disease “, explains Irini Samuel, co-author of the work.
“If our findings are confirmed, the standardization of the scoring system for the evaluation of gray hair could be used as a predictor of coronary heart disease, ” concludes Samuel.
