RESEARCH - Finger length pattern linked to OA

January 11, 2008

Finger length pattern linked to osteoarthritis

By Reuters Health

January 4, 2008

NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Jan 4 - People whose index fingers are shorter

than their ring fingers -- the so-called " male " or type 3 finger length

pattern -- are at increased risk for osteoarthritis of the knee, according

to a report in the January issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

The association is independent of established osteoarthritis risk factors,

lead author Dr. Doherty, from the University of Nottingham in the

U.K., and colleagues note.

Previous reports have linked the " male " index-to-ring finger length ratio

(2D:4D) to increased physical activity and to lower estrogen levels. Since

both of these factors have also been tied to osteoarthritis, it is possible

that such a finger pattern may predict the condition.

The current case-control study involved 2,049 subjects with osteoarthritis

of the knee or hip and 1,123 controls. The 2D:4D ratio was assessed in all

subjects using hand radiographs. Type 1 and type 2 patterns were defined as

the index finger being longer than or equal to, respectively, the ring

finger.

Overall, the type 3 pattern nearly doubled the likelihood of knee

osteoarthritis; the odds ratio associated with this pattern was higher in

women than in men: 3.05 versus 1.45.

The researchers also found evidence of a dose response: the risk of knee

osteoarthritis continued to rise as index finger length dropped relative to

ring finger length.

The results with hip osteoarthritis were inconsistent.

" This is the first study to examine the possible association between the

2D:4D length ratio and osteoarthritis, " the authors note. Further studies

are needed to confirm the link between the type 3 pattern and osteoarthritis

and to shed light on the underlying mechanisms.

Last Updated: 2008-01-03 14:29:11 -0400 (Reuters Health)

Arthritis Rheum 2008;58:146-153.

2298

Not an MD

Recommended Posts