Comment on 'Androgenetic Alopecia Present in the Majority of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19'

January 2021 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Domen Bukovac, Urška Makše

androgenetic alopecia AGA COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 hair loss androgenic alopecia male pattern baldness

TLDR Hair loss link to COVID-19 severity likely due to other factors.

This document is a letter commenting on a study that found a correlation between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and COVID-19 severity. The authors of the letter found inaccuracies in the analysis of the study and analyzed the raw data to match AGA prevalence in the age-matched population. They found that a higher prevalence of AGA in COVID-19 patients is most likely the consequence of other factors, causing older men to be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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research Androgenetic Alopecia Present in the Majority of Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: The 'Gabrin Sign'

119 citations , August 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Most COVID-19 patients in hospitals have androgenetic alopecia, more in men, suggesting a link between androgen sensitivity and severe COVID-19 symptoms.

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

193 citations , December 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

Hair loss common in Australia; men affected earlier, more often than Asians; women less concerned.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in Men Aged 40-69 Years: Prevalence and Risk Factors

155 citations , December 2003 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Hair loss increases with age; alcohol raises risk, more female partners lowers it.