Diagonal Ear-Lobe Crease is Correlated With Atherosclerotic Changes in Carotid Arteries

Abstract

Background:The diagonal ear-lobe crease (ELC) is reported to be a marker of cardiovascular disease. Very few reports have assessed the relationship of ELC with atherosclerosis. This relationship is investigated here using a Japanese population. Methods and Results: A prospective cross-sectional study included 212 consecutive patients. Bilateral ear lobes were checked for the ELC and this was followed by carotid ultrasonography to measure the far wall common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), plaque score (PS) and plaque number (PN). Patients with ELC had significantly higher carotid IMT than controls (0.90±0.24 vs 0.77±0.15, respectively, P<0.001). ELC presence correlated significantly with carotid IMT, PS, and PN (r=0.306, P<0.0001; r=0.198, P<0.008 and r=0.221, P<0.0001, respectively), and also with age, male sex and hypertension. ELC presence and absence in mild or no PS and moderate or severe PS subgroups was significant, with a chi-squared value of 7.59 (P<0.006). In multivariate regression analysis, ELC presence correlated with CCA-IMT independently. The odds ratio for the presence of ELC in patients with CCA-IMT of <0.8 mm vs patients with CCA-IMT of ≥0.8 mm (the median value) was 0.41 (95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.76). Conclusions:The present study showed an association between ELC and increased CCA-IMT, PS, and PN. (Circ J 2009; 73: 1945 -1949

Diagonal ear lobe crease and atherosclerosis: A review of the medical literature and dental implications

“…In 2009, Shrestha I et al, evaluated 212 patients (106 males, 106 females with a mean age of 67) in Japan requiring a B-mode ultrasound evaluation of the extracranial carotid arteries because of a prior history of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease or for pre-operative screening purposes (32). Approximately 30% of the patients had a DELC which demonstrated an independent association with CIMT in multivariate regression analysis after adjusting for age, sex and hypertension.…”

Prevalence of Earlobe Creases and Their Association With History of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Cross‐Sectional Study

“…A cross‐sectional study of 212 consecutive patients (mean age 67 ± 12 years, 48.1% male) who underwent clinically indicated ultrasonographic examination of the extracranial carotid artery systems reported a prevalence of ELC of 28.8%. Although the age and sex distribution of the participants and the methods for evaluating ELCs differed between these studies, these findings suggest that despite their higher risks of developing CVD, the prevalence of ELC would likely not be significantly higher in individuals undergoing hemodialysis than in those not undergoing dialysis. It is possible that survivor bias reduced the prevalence of ELCs in our cohort; if individuals with ELCs are at higher risk of CVD than those without them, those with ELC would also be at higher risk of mortality, which would decrease their prevalence.…”

Diagonal earlobe crease and coronary artery disease in a Chinese population

“…The ear lobes were assessed with the patients in sitting position using a modified evaluation sheet designed by Isha Shrestha [25]. The typical DELC was recorded as a deep diagonal crease (>1 mm) extending obliquely from the tragus towards the outer border of the ear lobe, covering at least two-thirds of the ear lobe length.…”