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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2005

Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research

Health-related quality of life and physical well-being among a 63-year-old cohort of women with androgenetic alopecia; a Finnish population-based study

Authors: Päivi Hirsso, Ulla Rajala, Mauri Laakso, Liisa Hiltunen, Pirjo Härkönen, Sirkka Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2005

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the possible associations between female androgenetic alopecia (AGA), insulin resistance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL)-linked factors in women. We hypothesized that not only the mental aspects but also certain physical aspect of women's health, such as insulin resistance, have an important role in the determination of HRQOL among women with hair loss.

Methods

A population-based cohort of 330 healthy women aged 63 years, who participated in this study in the City of Oulu in Northern Finland, underwent a medical check-up including assessment of hair status on Ludwig's scale. Background data were collected with a standard questionnaire including a validated RAND 36-Item Health Survey (RAND-36) questionnaire.

Results

105 (31%) women with AGA and 225 (69%) controls completed the RAND-36 questionnaire. The women with AGA were more insulin-resistant than the women with normal hair (QUICKI 0.337 vs. 0.346, p = 0.012). Impaired glucose regulation (IGR) was more prevalent among the former than the latter group (39% vs. 25%). The mean RAND-36 scores were significantly lower on the dimensions of physical functioning, role limitation due to physical health and general health, but not on the mental or social dimensions, among the women with AGA compared with the controls. In multivariate logistic regression analyses with the lowest quintiles of the HRQOL dimensions as the dependent variables and AGA, depression, marital status, education and IGR or QUICKI as independent variables, AGA was independently associated with role limitations due to physical health (2.2, 95% CI 1.20–4.05, 2.45 95% CI 1.32–4.55, respectively).

Conclusion

In women aged 63 years, AGA was associated with role limitations due to physical health. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of IGR and insulin resistance measured by QUICKI were higher among the women with hair loss than those with normal hair.
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Metadata
Title
Health-related quality of life and physical well-being among a 63-year-old cohort of women with androgenetic alopecia; a Finnish population-based study
Authors
Päivi Hirsso
Ulla Rajala
Mauri Laakso
Liisa Hiltunen
Pirjo Härkönen
Sirkka Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
Publication date
01-12-2005
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-3-49

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