Palmar Dermatoglyphics in Essential Hypertensive Patients: An Analytical Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatoglyphics deal with the study of papillary ridge patterns on the skin of fingers, palms, toes and soles. Each pattern is a unique anatomical marker, and their development is strongly affected by genetic and environmental factors. Aim: To determine whether essential hypertensive patients have significant dermatoglyphic pattern association as compared to non hypertensive participants in the study population. Materials and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in 228 patients (114 diagnosed essential hypertensive patients and 114 non hypertensive patients) attending the Department of Medicine at Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Kulasekharam, Tamil Nadu, India, of both the sexes and belonging to different age groups. Informed consent was obtained from each individual. Palmar and fingertip prints of the patients and the controls were taken on the white crystal bond paper by modified Purvis-Smith method and the following parameters were analysed: i) Fingertip pattern frequency; ii) Total and Absolute Finger Ridge Count (AFRC); iii) a-b ridge count; and iv) ‘atd’ angle. The statistical contents like arithmetic mean and standard deviation were calculated and the t-test and Chi-square test were applied wherever necessary. Results: There were more loop pattern in digit 2 of left hand of female hypertensives than controls. There was increased Total Finger Ridge Counts (TFRC) in both males (134.14±19.560; p-value=0.038) and females (131.42±27.777; p-value=0.001) hypertensives and significantly higher AFRC (187.65±67.806; p-value=0.001) in female hypertensives, There was decreased ‘a-b’ ridge count in both hands of male (right: 24.19±4.36; p-value=0.001 left: 24.54±3.586; p-value=0.001) and female (right: 23.65±3.43; p-value=0.001 left: 24.16±3.321; p-value=0.001) patients and decreased ‘atd’ angle in both hands of male (right: 38.86±4.001; p=0.003 left: 38.51±4.428; p-value=0.001) and right hand of female (40.70±4.476; p-value=0.009) hypertensive patients, as compared to that of controls. Conclusion: As the parameters showed significant association, they can be used as dermatoglyphic markers for early detection of essential hypertension.

Keywords

• atd angle
• finger ridge count
• loop
• raised blood pressure