AA patients demonstrated lower heart rate and disease-severity-related alterations in body composition compared to controls and mild AA patients, although the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain.
Key Findings
Results
Heart rate was significantly lower in alopecia areata patients compared with healthy controls.
Mean difference of -5.14 bpm (95% CI: -10.267 to -0.013)
Study included 50 AA patients (32 men, 18 women; mean age 28.98 ± 9.81 years) and 50 healthy controls (30 men, 20 women; mean age 28.00 ± 7.86 years)
This was a case-control study design
The finding was statistically significant based on the confidence interval not crossing zero
Results
No significant differences were found between AA patients and healthy controls in anthropometric variables, body composition, or arterial stiffness indices.
Comparisons included anthropometric measurements, body composition assessments, and arterial stiffness indices
Arterial stiffness was measured in all participants
Electrocardiographic evaluations were also performed on all participants
No statistically significant between-group differences were detected for these parameters
Results
AA patients with moderate-to-severe disease had significantly lower body fat mass compared with those with mild AA.
Mean difference in body fat mass: 4.95 kg (95% CI: 0.26 to 9.644)
Disease severity was classified using the SALT score (mild vs. moderate-to-severe)
Subgroup analyses were performed according to both SALT score and disease duration (≥10 years vs. <10 years)
Results
AA patients with moderate-to-severe disease had significantly lower visceral fat rating compared with those with mild AA.
Mean difference in visceral fat rating: 2.428 units (95% CI: 0.800 to 4.056)
This finding was based on subgroup analysis according to SALT score severity classification
Both body fat mass and visceral fat rating were lower in the more severe disease group compared to the mild disease group
Background
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder associated with systemic immune-inflammatory activity and potential cardiometabolic risk, motivating study of cardiovascular markers.
AA is characterized by non-scarring hair loss
The study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular risk markers including ECG parameters, arterial stiffness indices, anthropometric measurements, and body composition
Analyses were performed according to disease severity and duration
The study was motivated by the potential link between AA's autoimmune/inflammatory nature and cardiovascular risk