The Ratio of Second to Fourth Digit Length (2D:4D) and Heart Disease

Abstract

Objectives: The risk of getting heart diseases is unpredictable due to many predisposing factors range from lifestyle to genetic inheritance. Scientist made the discovery after studying men of various age who had suffered heart disease made a finding; the length of ring fingers (4D) are shorter than index fingers (2D) are at greater risk of premature heart attack at their early 30. Based on these facts, we carried out this project work by analyzing 2D and 4D ratios with the perspective of risk of heart disease among the Malaysian undergraduate students. Materials and method: A cross sectional study using questionnaire about subject's family history of heart related problems if any, followed by measurement of length of second and fourth digit was carried out. 2D:4D ratio index was calculated. Data obtained were tabulated according to index more than 1 and less than 1. Results and discussion: In the present study, total 66 subjects (n= 120) presented with a ratio greater than 1.0, this accounted for a total of 55%, while remaining 45% of subjects had 2D:4D <1.0. Even though we couldn't confirmed that this test confirms an accurate indicator to determine the risk, it is yet the strongest predictor of heart disease later in life. Conclusion: We hope that this study could create awareness among the students with 2D4D ratio greater than 1.0 to avoid heart diseases by leading a better lifestyle with balanced diet and regular exercise.

The Correlation between Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) and Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2D:4D) with an Increase in Metabolic Syndrome Scores in Obese Adolescent Girls

“…While the left hand digit ratio was 33.8% in the high category and 66.3% in the low category. Research conducted by Kumar et all on the students in Malaysia as subjects found high digit ratio prevalence of 55% (16). While previous studies conducted in Indonesia on YARSI University students in Central Jakarta also found a high digit ratio prevalence of 45.82% (14).…”

“…Study about digit ratio began in 2 years old children, and possibly increased the formation of digit ratio since early of life. This study leads to the hypothesis that the number of digit ratio reflects embryo's exposure to testosterone and estrogen hormones which are formed since the end of the first trimester of fetal development and remains relatively stable throughout the life, which tend to develop certain diseases in the future (14,16,17). This hypothesis has not been tested using experimental study (17).…”