Prevalence of androgenetic alopecia in China: A community-based study in six cities.

[CausticSymmetry]

Br J Dermatol. 2010 Jan 22.
Prevalence of androgenetic alopecia in China: A community-based study in six cities.

Wang TL, Zhou C, Shen YW, Wang XY, Ding XL, Tian S, Liu Y, Peng GH, Xue SQ, Zhou JE, Wang RL, Meng XM, Pei GD, Bai YH, Liu Q, Li H, Zhang JZ.

Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.

Summary: Background: There are racial differences in the prevalence and types of Androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The prevalence of AGA had been studied in Caucasian and in some Asian people. In China, although there have been some reports of epidemiological study on single city or region, no multi-centre population-based study had been reported. Objective: To study the prevalence and types of AGA in China and to compare the results with those previously reported in Caucasians and in other Asian people. Methods: A community-based study was carried out in six cities of China. Subjects received a face-to-face interview and answered the questionnaires. The degree of AGA was classified according to the Norwood and Ludwig classifications. Results: Totally 17886 subjects were interviewed and 15257 completed the questionnaires. In male, the overall prevalence of AGA was 21.3%, with 2.8% in 18-29 years group, 13.3% in 30-39 years group, 21.4% in 40-49 years group, 31.9% in 50-59 years group, 36.2% in 60-69 years group and 41.4% in group of over 70 years. The most common type was frontal and vertex hair loss. A small number of subjects (3.7%) showed "female pattern" hair loss. In female, the prevalence of AGA was 6.0%, with 1.3% in 18-29 years group, 2.3% in 30-39 years group, 5.4% in 40-49 years group, 7.5% in 50-59 years group, 10.3% in 60-69 years group and 11.8% in group of over 70 years. Ludwig grade I was the most common type. The prevalence of AGA varied between cities. Family history was present in 29.7% of males and 19.2% of females with AGA. Conclusions: The prevalence of AGA in Chinese males and females were both lower than those in Caucasian and similar to those in Korean.