According to a new study, both male-pattern baldness and premature aging pose a greater risk for heart disease than being overweight in men below 40 years old. The results were presented during the 69th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India (CSI) in Kolkata.

Based on the research of the European Society of Cardiology, male-pattern baldness and premature aging accelerate the probability of premature heart disease by four times than obesity. The researchers suggest that even though hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking, to name a few, are forecasters of coronary artery disease, they are to a lower degree compared to obesity, premature greying, and male-pattern baldness.

The study discovered that there is a bigger incidence of early greying and male-pattern baldness in contrast to people who do not have the condition. The researchers denote that the risk factors were significant.

Participants included in the research from the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad consist of 790 men below 40 years old suffering from coronary artery disease. About 1,270 robust men who are of the same age range also took part in the conducted study as the control group, Times Now reports.

"Our study found associations but a causal relationship needs to be established before statins can be recommended for men with baldness or premature greying," noted cardiologist Dhammdeep Humane from the hospital.

The Conversation notes that following the adjustment for other factors, the researchers realized that male-pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia sustained 5.6 times bigger risk of coronary artery disease. While untimely greying, on the other hand, was linked to 5.3 times higher risk.

Although the findings could be noteworthy, it should be noted as well that the number of men who participated in the study was relatively small and was conducted on Indian men only.