Alopecia and severity of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Peru.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COVID-19 severity and androgenic alopecia in patients hospitalized in the Surgery Service of Honorio Delgado Espinoza Hospital in Arequipa, Peru. A cross-sectional study was performed in male patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Alopecia, clinical characteristics, treatment, and evolution were collected. In all, 98 patients were included; median age was 55 years old (range 18-89), 32.7% with comorbidities, and 45.9% with androgenic alopecia. The severity of COVID-19 infection was moderate to severe in 13.2% of patients without alopecia, and in 88.9% of patients with alopecia (p>0.001). In the logistic regression model analysis, patients with alopecia had a higher risk of presenting moderate to severe symptoms due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR: 80.2; 95% CI 16.2-397.7). In conclusion, the severity of infection was statistically significant in patients over 60 years old and those with alopecia.