Epidemiological Landscape of Androgenetic Alopecia in the US: An All of Us Cross-Sectional Study
February 2025
in “
PLoS ONE
”
TLDR Androgenetic alopecia starts earlier in males than females, with different treatments, and is linked to income, education, alcohol use, and mental health.
This cross-sectional study using the All of Us dataset analyzed the prevalence and treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 266,612 participants in the US. It found that AGA typically begins earlier in males (20-39 years) than in females (60-69 years), with treatment for males often including finasteride and oral minoxidil, while females are prescribed spironolactone and oral minoxidil, with finasteride used post-menopause. The study noted a significant drop in finasteride prescriptions after reports of Post-Finasteride Syndrome in 2011. AGA incidence was higher among individuals with higher income, education, and alcohol use. In females, AGA was more frequently reported in those with anxiety and depression, suggesting a link between AGA and mental health. The study highlights the influence of social determinants on AGA and suggests that addressing AGA may improve overall health management. Limitations include potential inaccuracies in electronic health record data and the exclusion of over-the-counter treatments like topical minoxidil.