Early Androgenetic Alopecia as a Possible Indicator of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Link to Cardiovascular Risks: A Cross-Sectional Study

March 2026 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”

Jiayu He, Min He, Dehua Zhang, Ning Ning, Lin Chen, Shiyu He, Yunxia Ling, Jinfen Zheng, Xiangzi Li, Yang Guan, Yanyan Li

androgenetic alopecia AGA diabetes mellitus DM dyslipidemia hypertension obesity abdominal obesity impaired fasting glucose male pattern baldness high blood pressure high cholesterol high blood sugar

TLDR Early hair loss may indicate a higher risk of diabetes in young and middle-aged adults.

A cross-sectional study conducted in Shenzhen, Southern China, involving 11,968 participants, found that the prevalence of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) was 18.94%, with a higher occurrence in males (32.42%) compared to females (7.12%). The study revealed that AGA patients had higher rates of obesity, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension. Notably, a significant association between early-onset AGA and DM was observed in individuals aged 18-49 years, but not in those over 50. In adults under 45, AGA was linked to increased risks of DM and impaired fasting glucose. The study suggests that early-onset AGA may serve as an indicator of DM risk in young and middle-aged adults, emphasizing the importance of early identification and preventive strategies. However, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference.

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