IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-8-7-19898 Original Research Paper To Study Quality of Life in Males Presenting with Androgenetic Alopecia M. A. Patvekar Dr. July 2019 8 7 01 02 ABSTRACT

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or male pattern baldness affects up to 50% of men worldwide. In males, the hair loss often presents as a receding hairline while in females it typically presents as a thinning of the hair. Male pattern hair loss is believed to be due to a combination of genetics and the male hormone dihydrotestosterone. Considering how lifestyle factors influence hormonal levels greatly, it could be presumed that lifestyle and behavioural patterns may contribute to the occurrence and severity of AGA. This view is supported by a study done by Alfonso et al. in 20055 in male subjects with AGA. Aim: To study the quality of life in males presenting with androgenetic alopecia to the dermatology OPD. Material and Methods: It was a hospital–based prospective co–relation study conducted on 100 male patients attending OPD of Dermatology at the Dr D. Y. Patil Medical College and Research Center, Pimpri, Pune, between July 2016 and September 2018 to assess the quality of life in males with androgenetic alopecia. Results: The patients in the age groups of 21–30 and 31–40 years fared significantly poorly with higher scores as compared to patients in the age groups of 41–50 and >50 years in emotional, functional and stigmatization subscales (p<0.05). The patients in the age group of 21–30 years were less affected as per symptom subscales and were significantly more self–assured as compared to the patients in the other age groups (p<0.05). The association of age and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score in patients is shown in Table 2. The DLQI score was significantly higher in patients in the age group of 21–30 years as compared to the patients in the other age groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Androgenetic alopecia has a very large effect on patients’ quality of life with significant psychosocial limitations. Impairment of QoL was found to be greater younger age group and with severe disease.