Association Between Alopecia Areata and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
August 2025
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New to Alopecia Areata? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This meta-analysis found that patients with alopecia areata, especially those with more severe forms like alopecia totalis or universalis, may have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, suggesting a potential link between the systemic inflammation in AA and cardiovascular risk.
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This meta-analysis investigated the association between alopecia areata (AA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) by analyzing data from five studies involving 238,270 AA patients. The results indicated that AA patients have a higher odds ratio (OR = 1.71) for CVD outcomes compared to controls, with a particularly strong risk observed in patients with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis (OR = 3.80). However, no significant associations were found between patch-type AA and CVD, or between AA and specific conditions like ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction. The study suggests that systemic inflammation in AA may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for further research to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms involved.
