Cardiovascular risk in patients with alopecia areata (AA): A propensity-matched retrospective analysis Journal Article

Local Library Link: Find It @ Loyola

Authors: Huang, K. P.; Joyce, C. J.; Topaz, M.; Guo, Y; Mostaghimi, A
Article Title: Cardiovascular risk in patients with alopecia areata (AA): A propensity-matched retrospective analysis
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular risk of patients with alopecia areata (AA) is not well characterized, with limited studies evaluating the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the risk for patients with AA to develop subsequent stroke and AMI. METHODS: We conducted propensity-matched retrospective analysis between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2010, from Brigham and Women#39;s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. A comprehensive research patient data repository search was done for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 704.01 and cases were verified using a natural language processing program. Propensity score matching was used to identify controls for AA cases based on age, race, gender, smoking status, and history of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. RESULTS: We identified 1377 cases of AA matched with 4131 controls. Patients with AA had decreased odds for developing stroke (odds ratio 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.87) and a trend toward decreased risk of AMI (odds ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.59-1.39). LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study using a clinical database. CONCLUSION: Patients with AA had decreased risk for stroke and AMI, although not statistically significant. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in other AA cohorts and to elucidate a potential mechanism.
Journal Title: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume: 75
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1097-6787; 0190-9622
Publisher: American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2016
Start Page: 151
End Page: 154
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.1016/j.jaad.2016.02.1234
Notes: LR: 20170412; CI: Copyright (c) 2016; JID: 7907132; OTO: NOTNLM; 2015/11/04 [received]; 2016/02/28 [revised]; 2016/02/29 [accepted]; ppublish