Quality of Life in Adults with Androgenic Alopecia Chyi Lim Wan1, Tan Eugenie Sin Sing2, Lee Chew Kek3, Rehman Navedur2, Chao Loh Wei4, Keat Tan Chung2,* 1Medical Doctor, Crown Clinic, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3Medical Doctor, Pantai Hospital Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia *Corresponding author: Tan Chung Keat, E-mail: cktan@ucsiuniversity.edu.my
Online published on 30 April, 2019. Abstract Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is a common hair loss disease with genetic predisposition among men and women. AGA may start any age after puberty and is affecting one's social aspects as well as significantly impacted psychological and overall of quality of life. Medically, AGA is considered a mild dermalogical illness. However, those suffering from the illness might feel that alopecia is a serious condition with major distress in life and how other people view them as well as their employment opportunities. As hair is a crucial component of one's appearance and self-identity, patients with androgenic alopecia (AGA) may experience a self-confident distorted and negative feelings of social disadvantages, dissatisfaction, embarrassment, and lack of self-confidence. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life among local adults with androgenic alopecia, using 2 validated questionnaires: The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Hairdex Score System (HSS). Association between quality of life in AGA patients with gender, age group, marital status and employment status was also evaluated. This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults with androgenic alopecia visiting a private clinic in Cheras, Selangor. In this research study, 125 patients (84 male and 41 females) (aged 20 years and above) completed 2 validated questionnaires, DLQI and HSS. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) is used in this study. The results showed that quality of life impairment increases with increasing severity of androgenic alopecia. (p=0. 000). Males had higher impairment of quality of life than females. (p=0. 000) The quality of life in employed patients was more impaired than the unemployed. (P<0.01) The study can conclude that Androgenic Alopecia shows a considerable impact on quality of life among adults. Top Keywords Androgenic alopecia, AGA, hair loss, life, quality. Top |