Androgenetic alopecia may reduce health-related quality of life

(HealthDay)—Androgenetic alopecia is associated with moderate impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and emotions, according to a review published online July 7 in JAMA Dermatology.

Chun-Hsien Huang, M.D., from Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou, Taiwan, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to determine the impact of androgenetic alopecia on HRQOL.

Based on 41 studies (7,995 patients), the researchers found that the pooled Hair-Specific Skindex-29 score indicated moderate impairment of emotions. There was no indication of depression for the pooled Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score. Having married or coupled status and receipt of medical treatments were directly associated with HRQOL, while higher self-rated hair loss severity, lower visual analog scale score, and higher educational level had an inverse association with HRQOL.

This review "illustrated the association of androgenetic alopecia with moderate impairment of HRQOL, which was greater than for alopecia areata and other common dermatoses, such as contact dermatitis and acne vulgaris," the authors write. "In addition, androgenetic alopecia was associated with moderate impairment in emotions, which was greater than in the symptom and function dimensions; the association with depressive symptoms was not significant. Patients with androgenetic alopecia deserve attention and appropriate psychological and psychosocial support."

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