Predictors of Scalp Hair Thinning in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective: To determine the prevalence and predictors of perceived scalp hair thinning (SHT) among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of women with PCOS to determine the prevalence and predictors of SHT in this population. The sample included 263 women presenting to a reproductive endocrinologist at a tertiary care teaching institution for symptoms relating to PCOS. The main outcome measures were symptoms of PCOS including SHT, quality of life, hormonal and metabolic parameters. Clinical, hormonal and metabolic predictors of SHT were determined utilizing multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: SHT was acknowledged by 27% of subjects. Advancing age (p=0.024), subjective hirsutism (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.91), disturbed sleep (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.1–3.4) and smoking (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.0–3.9) were associated with significantly increased likelihood of SHT (p<0.05). Serum androgen levels did not relate to SHT. On analyses adjusting for age, body mass index, race, and smoking status, abnormal two-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OR 9.9, 95% CI 3.1–30.2), serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.97–0.99), and skipped meals (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3–7.3) were independent predictors of SHT in women with PCOS. Conclusions: Similar to acanthosis nigricans, our data identify SHT as a phenotypic reflection of concomitant metabolic burden in women with PCOS.