Androgenetic alopecia: Prevalence and clinical characteristics in a South-West Nigerian population

Abstract

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a type of nonscarring alopecia with prevalence, pattern, and severity that have not been documented extensively in Nigeria and Africa. This study aimed to document AGA's prevalence and clinical characteristics among adults in Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study of 260 consenting adults with AGA and 260 age- and sex-matched controls through a multistage sampling method. The survey for AGA was done using a pretested questionnaire. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 20. Results: The overall prevalence of AGA was 29.95%, with a gender prevalence of 24.88% and 5.06% for men and women, respectively. The mean age of AGA was 51.32 ± 16.31 years, with a range of 24–90 years and male-to-female ratio of 4.9:1. The prevalence of premature AGA was 0.38%. Grade II vertex (13.8%) and VI (10.4%) were the most frequent male androgenetic alopecia severity grades, while grade IVa was the least common. Ludwig I was the most frequent female androgenetic alopecia severity grade (7.7%), followed by Ludwig II (6.9%) and III (2.3%). The mixed type of baldness was the most common (73.6%) phenotype, followed by frontal (20.8%), and vertex (4.2%) in men. Conclusion: Overall prevalence of AGA was 29.95%. The prevalence varies with location, age and gender with paternal family history as a significant risk factor. The mixed type of baldness is the most common phenotype.

Keywords

• androgenetic alopecia
• pattern
• prevalence
• severity