Androgenetic Alopecia Among Hospital Staff: A Study of Prevalence, Types and a Comparison with General Population in a Secondary Hospital in China

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence and types of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) among hospital staff and compare it with the general population in dermatology. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We carried out the study in a secondary hospital in China. We conducted face-to-face interviews with hospital staff and the outpatients and their accompanying persons (general population) visiting the dermatology clinic of the hospital. The severity of AGA was evaluated using the Hamilton–Norwood and Ludwig classifications. RESULTS: There were 297 subjects in the hospital staff (105 men and 192 women) and 318 subjects in the general population (109 men and 209 women). The prevalence of AGA among male and female staff was 42.9% and 13.0%, respectively, and the corresponding rates among general male and female population were 27.5% and 8.1%, respectively. However, there was no statistical difference in the prevalence of AGA between female staff and general female population. Among male staff, type IV was the most common type of hair loss (17.1%), and type IVa and type Va were the least common (1.0%). Among female staff, type I (6.3%) was the most common type of hair loss, and type III and male pattern hair loss were the least common (1.0%). A positive family history was found in 53.3% of male and 44.0% of female staff with AGA. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AGA in the male staff was higher than that in the general male population.