Br
J Dermatol. 2001 Jul;145(1):95-9.
BACKGROUND:
There are racial differences in the prevalence and types of androgenetic alopecia
(AGA). There have been several reports on the prevalence and types of AGA in the
general population of caucasians, but few studies on Koreans with samples of sufficient
numbers have been reported. OBJECTIVES: To obtain a more precise estimate of the
prevalence and types of AGA in Korean men and women and to compare the results with
those in caucasians. METHODS: The prevalence and types of AGA were analysed in 10,132
Koreans (5531 men and 4601 women) who had visited the Health Examination Centre
at Kyung Hee University Hospital for regular health examinations between December
1997 and July 1999. To classify the degree of hair loss for each subject, the Norwood
classification was used in men and the Ludwig classification in women. For AGA in
men, 'female pattern' was added to the Norwood classification. RESULTS: In Korean
men, the prevalence of AGA (Norwood III or above) at all ages was 14.1%. It increased
steadily with advancing age, but was lower than that of caucasians: 2.3% in the
third decade, 4.0% in the fourth decade, 10.8% in the fifth decade, 24.5% in the
sixth decade, 34.3% in the seventh decade and 46.9% over 70 years. Type III vertex
involvement was the most common type in the third decade to the seventh decade;
over 70 years, type VI was most common. A 'female pattern' was observed in 11.1%
of cases. In Korean women, the prevalence of AGA (Ludwig I or above) at all ages
was 5.6%. It also increased steadily with advancing age: 0.2% in the third decade,
2.3% in the fourth decade, 3.8% in the fifth decade, 7.4% in the sixth decade, 11.7%
in the seventh decade and 24.7% over 70 years. Grade I was the most common type
up to the sixth decade; over 60 years, grade I and II were similar in prevalence.
Grade III (total baldness) was not observed. A family history of baldness was present
in 48.5% of men and 45.2% of women with AGA. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AGA
in Korean men and women was lower than that in caucasians, as recorded in the literature.
Korean men tend to have more frontal hairline preservation and show a more 'female
pattern' of hair thinning than caucasians. Therefore, 'female pattern' should be
added to the classification of AGA. |
