J Epidemiol. 2026 Jun 20. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20250596. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The rising prevalence and earlier onset of hair loss have highlighted its associations with cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia) and comorbidities among adults. This cross-sectional study examined the associations of hair loss severity with hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM).
METHODS: Hair loss was assessed via Modified Hamilton-Norwood (males) and Savin (females) scales in the Tianning cohort (N=5020). Hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were diagnosed per Chinese guidelines, with two or more coexisting conditions defining CMM. Multivariate logistic regression analyzed associations between hair loss and these diseases, including CMM.
RESULTS: Compared with participants without hair loss, those with mild and severe hair loss had 29% (OR=1.29, 95% CI, 1.08-1.54) and 48% (OR=1.48, 95% CI, 1.16-1.89) higher odds of hypertension, respectively. Severe hair loss was also associated with 44% higher odds of diabetes (OR=1.44, 95% CI, 1.11-1.86) and 30% higher odds of CMM (OR=1.30, 95% CI, 1.02-1.65). No significant association was observed for dyslipidemia after multivariable adjustment.
CONCLUSION: Greater hair loss severity was associated with higher odds of hypertension, diabetes, and CMM in this cross-sectional analysis. These findings suggest that hair loss severity may be relevant to cardiometabolic health in adults.
PMID:42324170 | DOI:10.2188/jea.JE20250596