Should Male Pattern Baldness Be Considered in Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis, involving 154,988 men, found a significant association between male pattern baldness and prostate cancer (PCa) risk, particularly for vertex baldness and early-onset baldness (≤30 years old), with pooled relative risks (pRR) of 1.19 and 1.26, respectively. The study suggests that early-onset baldness could serve as a potential clinical biomarker for elevated PCa risk, supporting its consideration in PCa risk assessment and individualized screening strategies. Despite limitations such as heterogeneity in study design and population characteristics, the findings emphasize the need for further research to understand the mechanisms linking baldness and PCa.