Association Between Alopecia Areata and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis, involving 238,270 alopecia areata (AA) patients from five studies, suggests that AA patients, particularly those with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis, have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with an odds ratio of 1.71. The study found a stronger risk association in patients with more severe forms of AA, such as alopecia totalis or universalis, but no significant association between patch-type AA and CVD, or between AA and specific conditions like ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction. The findings indicate that systemic inflammation in AA may contribute to atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for further research to confirm these results and explore the mechanisms involved.