Association of Premature Hair Greying with Family History of

ISSN: 2319-5835

Association of Premature Hair Greying with Family History of Premature Greying of Hair among the Bengalee Hindu young adults of Kolkata, India: A Brief Report

Corresponding Author: Mithun Das, Department of Anthropology & Tribal Studies, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, W.B.
Email: mithundas01@yahoo.com

KEYWORDS Premature hair greying, family history, Bengalee, young adult, Asian Indians

ABSTRACT
Background: Human scalp hair is much more complicated than it appears. One such complication is Premature Hair Greying (PHG). Among the various known factors, the family history of PHG has been less studied, and no such studies have been found in this part of the world. The present study attempts to determine whether there exists any association between PHG among young adults with a family history of PHG.
Material and Methods: The data consisted of 500 males and females aged between 20-30 years with a mean age of 25.6 years belonging to Bengalee Hindus of the urban areas of the Northern fringe of Kolkata, India. It includes116 cases of males and 134 controlled males (a total of 250 males), and 119 cases of females with 131 controlled females (a total of 250 females). Differences between case and control were analysed by chi-square followed by odds ratio and 95% CI.
Results: Among males family history of PHG showed an odds ratio of 10.0887 (95% CI = 5.6317 to 18.0729; p<0.0001), indicating that the odds of developing the risk is ten times higher among them (PHG+) than their counterparts (PHG-). Similarly, among females, the odds ratio of 3.883 (95% CI = 2.2607 to 6.6692; p<0.0001) indicates that the odds of developing the risk is four times higher among PHG+ than PHG-.
Conclusion: The association of PHG with family history seems to be biologically plausible and has been reported in the present study. A significant association between PHG and family history of PHG was found, irrespective of sex.

Sanchita Mistry¹ and Mithun Das²

¹Department of Anthropology, Sree Chaitanya College, Habra, North 24 Parganas, W.B
²Department of Anthropology & Tribal Studies, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, W.B.

DOI-DS: 01.2023-85274547
DOI Link :: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/01.2023-85274547/Frontier Anthropology/06.2021-53228984/V11/2022/A5

Brief Report

Manuscript Timeline
Submitted: August 1, 2022
Accepted: December 21, 2022
Published: January 14, 2023