1173 The Role of Iron Metabolism in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity in Individuals with Androgenetic Alopecia (EPISONO)

    May 2025 in “ SLEEP ”
    Ellen M. S. Xerfan, Maingredy Souza, Anamaria S. Facina, Jane Tomimori, Sérgio Tufik, Mônica L. Andersen
    TLDR Iron levels affect sleep apnea severity in people with hair loss, especially women.
    This study investigated the relationship between iron metabolism and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity in individuals with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) using data from the São Paulo Epidemiological Sleep Study (EPISONO). Among 747 participants, 81 had AGA, and after matching, 160 participants were analyzed. The study found significant negative correlations between serum iron levels and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in both sexes, particularly in women. Ferritin was positively correlated with AHI and the desaturation index in women, while serum iron was negatively linked to the desaturation index in men. These findings suggest that iron regulation plays a significant role in OSA severity in AGA, especially in women, highlighting the need to consider iron metabolism in managing OSA in AGA patients. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations.
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