Evaluation of Anthropometric Measurements, Arterial Stiffness and ECG Parameters in Alopecia Areata Patients

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by non-scarring hair loss and has been associated with systemic immune-inflammatory activity and potential cardiometabolic risk. This study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular risk markers-including ECG parameters, arterial stiffness indices, anthropometric measurements, and body composition-in patients with AA according to disease severity and duration, and to compare these findings with healthy controls. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This case-control 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). All participants underwent anthropometric and electrocardiographic evaluations. Body composition was assessed, and arterial stiffness was measured. Subgroup analyses were performed according to SALT score (mild vs. moderate-to-severe) and disease duration (≥10 years vs. <10 years). <i>Results:</i> Heart rate was lower in AA patients compared with controls (mean difference -5.14 bpm; 95% CI -10.267 to -0.013). No significant differences were found between the groups regarding anthropometric variables, body composition, or arterial stiffness indices. Among AA patients, those with moderate-to-severe disease had significantly lower body fat mass (mean difference 4.95 kg; 95% CI 0.26 to 9.644) and lower visceral fat rating (mean difference 2.428 units; 95% CI 0.800 to 4.056) compared with mild AA. <i>Conclusions</i>: AA patients demonstrated lower heart rate and disease-severity-related alterations in body composition, although the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether these subclinical differences translate into meaningful cardiovascular risk over time.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Medicina
Published
2025-11-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61122122
Primary Topic
Hair Growth and Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Evaluation of Anthropometric Measurements, Arterial Stiffness and ECG Parameters in Alopecia Areata Patients

Esra Pancar Yüksel, Serkan Yüksel, Serhat Karadavut, Gökhan Şahin et al.
Medicina
Hair Growth and Disorders
article

Evaluation of Anthropometric Measurements, Arterial Stiffness and ECG Parameters in Alopecia Areata Patients

Esra Pancar Yüksel, Serkan Yüksel, Serhat Karadavut, Gökhan Şahin, Fatma Aydın, Mehmet Murat Şahin
article en

Abstract

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by non-scarring hair loss and has been associated with systemic immune-inflammatory activity and potential cardiometabolic risk. This study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular risk markers-including ECG parameters, arterial stiffness indices, anthropometric measurements, and body composition-in patients with AA according to disease severity and duration, and to compare these findings with healthy controls. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This case-control 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). All participants underwent anthropometric and electrocardiographic evaluations. Body composition was assessed, and arterial stiffness was measured. Subgroup analyses were performed according to SALT score (mild vs. moderate-to-severe) and disease duration (≥10 years vs. <10 years). <i>Results:</i> Heart rate was lower in AA patients compared with controls (mean difference -5.14 bpm; 95% CI -10.267 to -0.013). No significant differences were found between the groups regarding anthropometric variables, body composition, or arterial stiffness indices. Among AA patients, those with moderate-to-severe disease had significantly lower body fat mass (mean difference 4.95 kg; 95% CI 0.26 to 9.644) and lower visceral fat rating (mean difference 2.428 units; 95% CI 0.800 to 4.056) compared with mild AA. <i>Conclusions</i>: AA patients demonstrated lower heart rate and disease-severity-related alterations in body composition, although the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether these subclinical differences translate into meaningful cardiovascular risk over time.

MedicinaVol. 61(12)
Ondokuz Mayıs University (TR), Samsun University (TR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 48%
Hair Growth and Disorders
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.