This study was to determine if there exists a difference in the rate of hirsutism in genetically similar women in two different environments. 112 Nigerian women living in the U.S.A and 70 women living in Nigeria were surveyed. All women completed a pictorial survey scoring peripheral hair growth in 6 body areas from 0 (no significant hair growth) to 4 (severe hair growth). Total hirsutism score was calculated as a sum of individual scores. The survey also included demographic data, menstrual history, and data regarding use of hormonal treatments. Statistical comparisons between groups included t-test, nonparametric tests and chi-square test. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to identify independent predictors of peripheral hair growth. Women residing in U.S.A had a 31% higher total hirsutism score than those residing in Nigeria. This difference was not related to irregular menstrual cycle. To account for possible effects of age, B.M.I and differences in tribal origin, multiple regression analysis was performed. Location (living in U.S.A vs. Nigeria) remained the strongest predictor of total hirsutism score (P=0.02); tribal origin was also significant (P=0.04), while age and B.M.I had no independent predictive value (P>0.1). It was concluded that this difference, is not explained by factors such as age, obesity and ethnic origin. We propose that this difference may be due to differences in environmental or lifestyle factors of the women.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:YALE_med/oai:ymtdl.med.yale.edu:etd-08232007-131346 |
| Date | 25 March 2008 |
| Creators | Olorunrinu, Kikelomo |
| Contributors | Antoni Jacek Duleba |
| Publisher | Yale University |
| Source Sets | Yale Medical student MD Thesis |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://ymtdl.med.yale.edu/theses/available/etd-08232007-131346/ |
| Rights | restricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Yale School of Medicine or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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