Second to fourth digit ratio: a predictor of adult lung function

Abstract

Sex and sex hormones play a major role in lung physiology. It has been proposed that the ratio of the second to fourth digits (digit ratio) is correlated with fetal sex hormones. We therefore hypothesized that digit ratio might help predict lung function. We investigated the relationship between digit ratio and pulmonary function test (PFT) findings. A total of 245 South Korean patients (162 male, 83 female) aged from 34 to 90 years who were hospitalized for urological surgery were prospectively enrolled. Before administering the PFTs, the lengths of the second and fourth digits of the right hand were measured by a single investigator using a digital Vernier caliper. In males (n = 162), univariate and multivariate analysis using linear regression models showed that digit ratio was a significant predictive factor of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (FVC: r = 0.156, P = 0.047; FEV1: r = 0.160, P = 0.042). In male ever-smokers (n = 69), lung functions (FVC and FEV1) were correlated with smoking exposure rather than digit ratio. In female never-smokers (n = 83), lung functions (FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio) were positively correlated with digit ratio on univariate analysis (FEV1: r = 0.242, P = 0.027; FEV1/FVC ratio: r = 0.245, P = 0.026). Patients with lower digit ratios tend to have decreased lung function. These results suggest that digit ratio is a predictor of airway function.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in relation to substance and computer use: a meta-analysis

“…The literature search (Fig. 1 ) identified 19 partly dependent articles (Vehmas et al 2006 ; Kornhuber et al 2011 , 2013 ; Manning and Fink 2011 ; Herschl et al 2012 ; Borkowska and Pawlowski 2013 ; Romero-Martínez et al 2013 ; Park et al 2014 ; Hoskin and Ellis 2015 ; Han et al 2016 ; Canan et al 2017 , 2018 ; Lenz et al 2017 , 2018a ; Müller et al 2017 ; Cicek et al 2017 ; Hoskin 2017 ; Hobson 2018 ; Kim et al 2018 ) and 18 independent samples. Two studies (Hoskin and Ellis 2015 ; Hoskin 2017 ) are based on the same collective and, therefore, count as one independent sample in our analysis.…”

The Relationship of 2D/4D Digit Ratio and Respiratory System: Example of Football Players: Descriptive Research

“…erişkin bireyler üzerinde yaptıkları çalışmada, erkeklerde parmak oranı ile FEV 1 ve FVC oranları arasında pozitif ilişkili bulunduğunu bildirmiştir. 25 Nobari ve ark. genç futbolcular üzerinde yaptığı çalışmada, 2D:4D oranı, kas gücü ve VO 2 maks'taki değişiklikleri önemli ölçüde öngördüğünü bildirmiştir.…”

Digit ratio links prenatal hormone exposure with adult lung function

“…A separate study of adult male Han reported similar digit ratio values of 0.9478 ± 0.0322 for the right hand 3. Park and coworkers1 postulated that age may have had an effect on digit ratio, but if so, the effect must have been subtle since age was not significantly correlated with digit ratio in males or females in their study. Furthermore, the utility of using digit ratio as a biomarker resides in its relative stability throughout life; admittedly, more attention has been paid to postnatal and pubertal modulations of digit ratio 4.…”

“…In a recent publication appearing in the Asian Journal of Andrology , a team of researchers investigated the relationship of early hormone exposure to adult lung function. In the publication, ‘Second to fourth digit ratio: a predictor of adult lung function’, Park et al ., 1 described known sexual dimorphisms in lung function and a role for sex hormones in the development and regulation of lung function: the predominantly-male hormone, testosterone, enhances airway inflammation and the predominantly female hormone, estrogen, promotes lung development and protects against inflammation. Increasingly over the last decade and a half, digit ratio (the ratio of the lengths of the index to ring fingers) has served as a convenient biomarker for prenatal steroid exposure, and is thought to depend on exposure to testosterone relative to estrogen during development.…”

“…Park and coworkers 1 measured the lung function of South Korean males and females who were hospitalized for an unrelated surgery. Information about smoking habits was collected and digit ratios were measured.…”