Healthc Inform Res.  2011 Dec;17(4):253-259. 10.4258/hir.2011.17.4.253.

An Analysis of the Correlation between Alopecia and Chief Complaints

• Lee SW
• Jang YH
• Jeong EY

• KMID: 2284552
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2011.17.4.253

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In this study, we measured the extent of ten levels of classified symptoms by 300 (male and female) patients visiting the hair loss clinics of "S" hospitals in Gangbuk and Gangnam between January 2009 and June 2011 by analyzing the patients' chief complaints.
METHODS
The method of measurement was based on a symptom questionnaire possessing 51 categories. Through the statistical analysis of data mining techniques, decision trees, and logistic regression, we derived a logistic regression model and decision tree model that improved both the response rate and significant hair loss-related characteristics of the questionnaire.
RESULTS
The results of this study indicate that dry hair, seborrheic scalps and skin, tobacco and/or coffee addiction, anxiety, nausea, indigestion, and facial flushing correlate to hair loss.
CONCLUSIONS
We anticipate that the subjective symptoms of hair loss can provide a foundation for preventing secondary diseases and provide clinical data information during the period of treatment. This can contribute to the improvement of patient satisfaction after customized treatment.

Keyword

Alopecia; Questionnaires; Signs and Symptoms; Regression; Decision Trees

MeSH Terms

Alopecia
Anxiety
Coffee
Data Mining
Decision Trees
Dyspepsia
Flushing
Hair
Humans
Logistic Models
Nausea
Patient Satisfaction
Scalp
Skin
Tobacco
Surveys and Questionnaires
Coffee

Figure

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  Figure 1 Decision-making trees for hair loss patients' chief complaints.

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  Figure 2 Receiver operating characteristic curve of comprehensive model.

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  Figure 3 Response chart of comprehensive model.

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