Quality of Life Assessment in Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: Result of a Prospective, Multicenter Study

Abstract

BackgroundAndrogenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hair loss disease with genetic predisposition among men and women, and it may commence at any age after puberty. It may significantly affect a variety of psychological and social aspects of one's life and the individual's overall quality of life (QoL).ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the QoL of AGA patients and discover the factors that can influence the QoL of AGA patients, including previous experience in non-medical hair care, reasons for hospital visits, age, duration, and the severity of AGA.MethodsA total of 998 male patients with AGA were interviewed, using the Hair Specific Skindex-29 to evaluate the QoL of AGA patients.ResultsThe results of the Hair Specific Skindex-29 on patients with AGA were as follows: symptom scale: 26.3±19.5, function scale: 24.0±20.1, emotion scale: 32.1±21.8, and global score: 27.3±19.1. According to this assessment, QoL was more damaged if the patient had severe alopecia, a longer duration of AGA, younger age, had received previous non-medical hair care, and visited the hospital for AGA treatment.ConclusionThis study showed that AGA could harmfully affect the patients' QoL. These findings indicate that dermatologists should address these QoL issues when treating patients with alopecia.

Cap Wearing and Quality of Life in Patients with Androgenic Alopecia amongst Indian Population

“…Thus as the severity of androgenic alopecia increases among Indian males, the quality of life also deteriorates proportionately due to psychological effects of alopecia on them and the social stigma of aging associated with it. This is supported by studies done by Han et al in South Korea in Asian population and Prinsen et al in Netherlands in Caucasian population where they found significant association between quality of life as assessed by skindex-29 and severity of androgenic alopecia [2,15]. Thus this study can serve as a guideline for male patients with androgenic alopecia in the Indian population.…”

“…Low confidence and low self-esteem in also seen in majority of patients with androgenic alopecia [6]. Hence, importance needs to be given on how help can be given to these patients in the most reasonable, easily affordable and with better compliance [2].…”

Impact of Androgenic Alopecia on the Quality of Life in Male Subjects: Results of an Observational Study from Tertiary Care Hospital

“…Han SH et al 19 also showed that function and emotion scales are more severly affected in younger age group as compared to older age group. In a study older patients were more severely afflicted for subscales of functioning, stigmatization and symptoms whereas emotional score was more severely affected in young population.…”

Role of Insulin Resistance in Males with Early Androgenetic Alopecia

“…It may significantly affect a variety of psychological and social aspects of one's life and the individual's overall quality of life [1].…”