Publication: Early Canities among Undergraduate Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Early canities are the premature greying of hair before the age of 25 years in Asians. The condition is a matter of concern for young adults aesthetically. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of early canities among undergraduate medical students of a medical college.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from 1 December 2021 to 30 June 2022 among undergraduate medical students at a medical college. The study was conducted after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee [Reference number: 146(6-11)C-2 078/079]. The participants with ages less than 25 years without a history of vitiligo, intake of chemotherapeutic drugs, progeria, pangeria and recent dyeing of hair were enrolled. A convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Out of 235 students, 95 (40.42%) (34.15-46.69, 95% Confidence Interval) had early canities. The most prevalent premature greying was grade I early canities i.e.79 (83.15%) of participants. Among the participants with early canities, 56 (58.94%) were male, 41 (43.15%) had a positive family history for early canities, 67 (70.52%) had normal body mass index and 38 (40%) had O+ve blood group.
Conclusions: The prevalence of early canities among undergraduate medical students was lower than in other studies done in similar settings. The grade I early canities was seen more among the participants with premature greying of hair.
Description
Sonam Chaudhary
Department of Clinical Physiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Narayan Bahadur Mahotra
Department of Clinical Physiology, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
Epidemiology, Hair colour, Medical students, Physiology