Li-Min Sun1, Ming-Chia Lin2, Chih-Hsin Muo3, Ji-An Liang4, Fung-Chang Sung5, Chia-Hung Kao6. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 2. Department of Nuclear Medicine, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 3. Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 4. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 5. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 6. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: dr.kaochiahung@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated the relationship between alopecia and prostate cancer. However, little information is available regarding the relationship between alopecia and the risk of cancers in women. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible association between alopecia and thyroid cancer among Taiwanese women. METHODS: We used data from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan. The alopecia cohort comprised 4534 women, and each woman was randomly frequency matched by age, index month, and index year with 4 women from the general population without alopecia. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis with Bonferroni correction was conducted to estimate the effects of alopecia on the risk of thyroid cancer. RESULTS: In women with alopecia, the overall risk for developing cancer was 22% higher than for subjects without alopecia, but the difference was not significant [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.22, 97.5% confidence interval (97.5% CI) = 0.87-1.70]. However, the risk for developing thyroid cancer among women with alopecia was significantly higher (HR = 2.39, 97.5% CI = 1.05-5.42). Further analyses determined that the alopecia group had a higher incidence of Graves' disease, but not Hashimoto thyroiditis. CONCLUSION: Although alopecia did not significantly increase cancer risks in women, we found that Taiwanese women with alopecia had a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer that is unlikely to be related to underlying thyroid diseases.
BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated the relationship between alopecia and prostate cancer. However, little information is available regarding the relationship between alopecia and the risk of cancers in women. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible association between alopecia and thyroid cancer among Taiwanese women. METHODS: We used data from the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan. The alopecia cohort comprised 4534 women, and each woman was randomly frequency matched by age, index month, and index year with 4 women from the general population without alopecia. A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis with Bonferroni correction was conducted to estimate the effects of alopecia on the risk of thyroid cancer. RESULTS: In women with alopecia, the overall risk for developing cancer was 22% higher than for subjects without alopecia, but the difference was not significant [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.22, 97.5% confidence interval (97.5% CI) = 0.87-1.70]. However, the risk for developing thyroid cancer among women with alopecia was significantly higher (HR = 2.39, 97.5% CI = 1.05-5.42). Further analyses determined that the alopecia group had a higher incidence of Graves' disease, but not Hashimoto thyroiditis. CONCLUSION: Although alopecia did not significantly increase cancer risks in women, we found that Taiwanese women with alopecia had a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer that is unlikely to be related to underlying thyroid diseases.
Authors: Ji Hyun Lee; Yumee Song; Kyung Do Han; Young Min Park; Jun Young Lee; Yong-Gyu Park; Young Bok Lee Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2018-06-27 Impact factor: 4.379