Evaluation of Association between Digital Dermatoglyphic Traits and Type-2 Diabetes in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a very serious problem in the world today. In particular, the incidence of type-2 diabetes is rising in developing countries because of life style changes to that of westernized societies. Type-2 diabetes is usually a late onset disease. Thus, early identification of risk group individuals through a non-invasive method like dermatoglyphics will be very helpful.
Objective: To see whether finger print pattern (dermatoglyphics) is associated with type-2 diabetes.
Methods: Dermatoglyphic data were obtained from nondiabetic and type-2 diabetic subjects attending the Diabetic Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) using a computer-assisted data capture system. The data were then analysed for association between the dermatoglyphic pattern and the subjects' health status with respect to type-2 diabetes.
Results: Total finger ridge count (TFRC) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in diabetic subjects than in non-diabetics. Results of cluster analysis suggested that dermatoglyphic pattern is associated with type-2 diabetes.
Conclusion: In view of the association between finger print pattern and type-2 diabetes, dermatoglyphics may be used for early identification of risk group individuals for surveillance purposes with a view to preventing disease onset.

Key words: dermatoglyphics; type-2 diabetes; finger print