A Cross - Sectional Study Of Palmar Dermatoglyphic Pattern In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus At KLE’S Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital And MRC

Abstract

Aim - To study dermatoglyphics of fingers and palms and to use it as a tool to screen the population for the pre-disposition to diabetes mellitus, for risk reduction and early therapy; thus reducing morbidity and mortality. Materials and methods - The study was conducted on 100 patients with diabetes mellitus and 100 controls, age, sex matched. The following quantitative parameters like finger ridge count, a-b ridge count, total finger ridge count, absolute finger ridge count, atd, adt and dat angles were studied. The following qualitative parameters like finger ridge patterns, palmar flexion creases were studied. Dankmeijer’s Index, Furuhata’s Index and Pattern intensity index were calculated for the fingertip patterns. Results - Difference of a-b ridge counts, Absolute Finger Ridge Counts and Total Finger Ridge Counts between cases and controls in both right and left hand was statistically not significant. An adt angle was significantly more in cases in right hand as compared to controls. The tad angle was less in cases in right hand as compared to controls. Fingertip patterns in all digits combined and in both hands combined in cases and controls showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the number of loops in controls as compared to cases, whereas the whorl and arch patterns did not show any statistically significant difference. Dankmeijer’s index was significantly more in male and female controls as compared to cases. Furuhata’s index was significantly more in male and female cases as compared to controls. Pattern intensity index was significantly more in female cases and controls as compared to males. Conclusion - Findings of the present study after a careful analysis of different palmar dermatoglyphic variables highlight on the possible markers. There were many supporting findings and many contradictory findings to studies conducted by other researchers, hence there is lot of scope for further studies on a larger sample size and other parameters