Systematic Investigation of a Potential Epidemiological and Genetic Association Between Male Androgenetic Alopecia and COVID-19

October 2021 in “ Skin health and disease ”

S. K. Henne, Lara M. Hochfeld, Carlo Maj, Markus M. Nöthen, Stefanie Heilmann-Heimbach

androgenetic alopecia COVID-19 WNT signaling vitamin metabolism polygenic risk score AGA

TLDR No significant link between male pattern baldness and COVID-19 severity was found.

This study examined the potential link between male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and COVID-19 severity using data from 6,262 individuals in the UK Biobank. Among them, 3,101 men reported AGA status. The findings revealed no significant epidemiological association between AGA and COVID-19 severity after adjusting for age, and genetic analyses showed no general genetic correlation between the two conditions. However, pathway-based polygenic risk score analyses indicated a shared genetic component in specific pathways, such as WNT signaling and vitamin metabolism, which may connect the pathophysiologies of AGA and COVID-19. The study emphasizes the need for further research, especially in diverse populations, to explore these potential links.

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