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Obstructive sleep apnea, low transferrin saturation levels, and male‐pattern baldness
Author(s) -
Baik Inkyung,
Lee SeungKu,
Thomas Robert J.,
Shin Chol
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/ijd.14193
Subject(s) - medicine , obstructive sleep apnea , polysomnography , odds ratio , confidence interval , family history , transferrin saturation , sleep apnea , risk factor , apnea , endocrinology , gastroenterology , physiology , ferritin , serum ferritin
Background There are limited data on the association between obstructive sleep apnea ( OSA ), which is characterized by intermittent hypoxia, and male‐pattern baldness ( MPB ). Low blood iron levels are reportedly associated with hypoxia and hair loss. This study explored a possible link among OSA , iron status, and MPB . Methods Polysomnography ( PSG ) and hair assessments were conducted in a cross‐sectional study including 932 men aged 46–76 years. OSA was defined as an apnea‐hypopnea index ≥5 by PSG evaluation and MPB as scales from IV to VII according to the Norwood‐Hamilton scale classification. Serum transferrin saturation ( TSA ) levels were assessed. Results A total of 224 men (24%) were identified as MPB cases and 495 men (53%) as having OSA . After considering potential risk factors, OSA and other sleep‐related variables were not associated with MPB . In joint analysis of OSA and family history of hair loss, men with these two factors showed a sevenfold higher multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval: 3.70, 12.56) for MPB than those without both of them ( P < 0.05 for the interaction between OSA and family history of hair loss). TSA levels were significantly associated with MPB and OSA . OSA cases without MPB as well as MPB cases showed lower TSA levels than those with neither OSA nor MPB ( P < 0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that OSA may be a risk factor for MPB in men who have a family history of hair loss and that low serum TSA levels associated with hypoxia may be involved in a pathway linking OSA and MPB .