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. 2013 Sep 10;10(11):1584–1588. doi: 10.7150/ijms.6360

The Ratio of Second to Fourth Digit Length (2D:4D) and Coronary Artery Disease in a Han Chinese Population

Xing-li Wu 1,✉,*, Ding-you Yang 2,*, Wen-hui Chai 3, Ming-lei Jin 4, Xing-chun Zhou 5, Li Peng 1, Yu-sheng Zhao 1
PMCID: PMC3775119  PMID: 24046536

Abstract

Background: The association between index finger to ring finger length ratio (2D:4D) and cardiac disorders has been reported, however it has not been discussed in terms of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated whether 2D:4D could be used as a marker for predisposition to CAD as assessed by coronary angiography in Chinese men and women.

Methods: This study included 1764 persons divided into 4 groups, 441 cases with CAD and 441 persons without CAD as control in each sex of the same age. Finger lengths were measured twice for both hands using electronic calipers. Student t test was used to detect the difference of 2D:4D among groups. The receiver operator characteristic curves (ROCs) were used to detect the diagnostic effect of 2D:4D for CAD.

Results: There were no significant differences in age among the four groups. A significant difference of 2D:4D ratios between right and left hand were observed only in men in both control and CAD groups. On the right hand in the control group and on both hands in the CAD group, the 2D:4D ratios were higher in women than in men (all, P < 0.001). In men with CAD, mean 2D:4D was higher than mean 2D:4D in control men (right hand 0.962±0.042:0.927±0.038; left hand 0.950±0.044:0.934±0.048; both hands, P < 0.001), but this was not observed in women. No relationship was found between 2D:4D and age (all, P >0.05). The area under the curve of right hand 2D:4D in male was 0.72 (95% CI 0.683-0.753, p<0.001), while it was 0.602 (95% CI 0.565-0.639, p<0.001) in left hand.

Conclusions: The present study showed an association between high 2D:4D ratio and CAD in both hands in men. There were no significant differences in mean 2D:4D between women with CAD and controls.

Keywords: finger length ratio, 2D:4D, coronary artery disease, Chinese, coronary angiography, diagnosis.

Introduction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is rapidly increasing in prevalence across the world 1,2. Therefore, it would be useful to identify a group of simple and reliable indicators for the identification of the persons at risk of CAD in the earlier stages in order to enable appropriate health interventions.

Testosterone has demonstrated effects on insulin resistance, obesity, myocardium, coagulation, inflammation, vasodilation, and endothelial function as reviewed by Choi 3. High androgen levels have historically been linked with an increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) 4,5, although the relationship is controversial 6.

It is believed that unbalanced exposure to prenatal testosterone or estrogen may be relate to the aetiology of series of phenomena and disorders including left-handedness, autism, dyslexia, migraine, stammering, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis and patent ductus arteriosus 7-10.

CAD is sexually dimorphic, such that it is more prevalent in males. There is also a sexual dimorphism in the ratio of the length of the 2nd digit (index finger) and the 4th digit (ring finger) (2D:4D) in humans 11,12,13. Manning et al 13 suggested that the 2D:4D ratio is a marker for testosterone and oestrogen levels towards the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. The 2D:4D may therefore be a predictor of fertility, and the pattern of differentiation of the central nervous system. During past decades, the relationship between 2D:4D and sex steroids related diseases including infertility, gastric cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer have been discussed in several ethnic groups 13-16.

Researchers in China indicated that men showed significantly smaller 2D:4D ratios than women in both hands as in other ethnic groups 17,18, higher 2D:4D of the right hand was associated with lower fertility in infertile males 17 and 2D:4D was negatively correlated with handgrip strength in males but not in females 19.

As for CAD, four studies have shown a significant positive association between 2D:4D and atherosclerotic diseases. Manning et al 20 found a negative relationship between 2D:4D ratio and age at first MI, that is men with low 2D:4D ratio tended to have their first MI's later in life than men with high 2D:4D ratios. Fink et al 21 reported a significant positive correlation between 2D:4D and neck circumference for men but not for women after controlling for body mass index, they thus suggested a predisposition for men towards CAD via 2D:4D as proxy to early sex-steroid exposure. A study including 50 men and 50 women in Greece reported that in men with MI, 2D:4D ratios were significantly higher than the respective ratios in healthy men, but no significant differences were observed in the ratios between women with MI and healthy women. It was proposed that 2D:4D may be a useful biomarker for predisposition to MI in Greek men, but not in Greek women 22. Consequently, Ozdogmus et al 23 reported a study of 100 heterosexual male autopsies whose mean age was 21.4 years. They found that the high 2D:4D ratio of right hand was related to the atherosclerotic plaque development of the right coronary artery.

In the previous CAD related studies, relatively young male patients were included 20,23, only patients with myocardial infarction were selected 20,22, and surrogate risk factors for CAD were used 21. Mean 2D:4D differs across ethnic groups. However, the link between 2D:4D ratio and CAD in the Chinese population has not yet been reported in the literature 24.

The present study is aimed to determine the association of 2D:4D ratio with CAD, and to investigate whether it could be regarded as an indicator to identify CAD in early development.

Methods

Study Subjects

The present work was designed as a cross-sectional study. We recruited 441 subjects with CAD in each sex from consecutive hospitalized cases in the center of cardiology in our hospitals. The controls consisted of 441 subjects without CAD, but with similar age and basic clinical characteristics in each sex. The patients excluded from the study were as previously reported 13,16,30,31, they included individuals with former hand lesions, infertility, endocrinopathies, chromosomal abnormalities, non-hetrosexuals, left-handers, and those with breast cancer, prostate cancer and other cardiac problems. Written informed consent was obtained and the study was approved by our institutional review board.

Diagnostic Criteria

CAD was defined by definite myocardial infarction with any degree of stenosis, or >50% stenosis in more than one epicardial branch as revealed by coronary angiography. Subjects without CAD were those without stenosis in any branch. Study interpretation on severity of coronary artery stenosis was conducted by 2 expert readers. Traditional risk factors for CAD such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and smoking were defined as we previously described 2.

Measurement of Digit Length

The index finger and ring finger lengths were measured on the palmar surface of hands from the basal crease proximal to the palm to the tip of the finger using vernier calipers measuring to 0.01mm as described by Manning 21.

Statistical Analysis

Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. P values of <0.05 was regarded as being statistically significant. Comparison of the variables between groups was carried out using student t test for numerical variables. Cohen's d was used to calculate effect sizes of group differences. ROCs mode were used to detect predicting performance of 2D:4D ratios for CAD. All statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, release 19.0) for Windows.

Results

Basic clinical characteristics

The study subjects consisted of 1764 subjects (50% were male), 842 with CAD (mean ± SD, 63.0 ± 12.5 years for men; 62.9 ± 12.4 years for women), and 842 without CAD as control group (mean ± SD, 63.1 ± 14.4 years for men; 62.9 ± 12.4 years for women). There were no significant difference in age, prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and smoking among the four groups (Table 1).

Table 1.

2D:4D ratio in men and women with and without CAD (mean±SD)

Male without CAD(n=441) Male with CAD(n=441) Cohen's effect size Female without CAD (n=441) Female with CAD (n=441) Cohen's effect size
Right Hand 0.927 ± 0.038* 0.962 ± 0.042*† 0.913 0.936 ± 0.040‡ 0.932 ± 0.044§ 0.066
Left Hand 0.934 ± 0.048 0.950 ± 0.044† 0.289 10.933 ± 0.04 0.935 ± 0.043§ 0.056
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*Significant difference for right hand versus left hand in male with and without CAD. †Significant difference for male with CAD versus male without CAD on the same hand. ‡Significant difference for female without CAD versus male without CAD on right hand (see text for P values). All other comparisons were not significant. §Significant difference for female with CAD versus male with CAD on the same hand.

The difference in 2D:4D ratios

There was no significant difference between each individual's first and second measurements of each digit length (p>0.05). A significant difference of 2D:4D between right and left hand were observed only in men in both control and CAD groups. On the right hand in the control group and on both hands in the CAD group, the 2D:4D ratios were higher in women than in men (all, P < 0.001). In men with CAD, 2D:4D were higher than men in the control group (right hand Cohen's effect size d = 0.91, left hand d = 0.29; both hands, P < 0.001), but this was not observed in women (Table 1).

The correlation between ratios of 2D:4D and age

No relationship was found between 2D:4D ratios and age (all, P >0.05), while a significant positive correlation between 2D:4D ratios and CAD existed only in men in both hands (P <0.001).

The ROCs analyzing digit ratio and CAD in male

The ROCs analysis showed that area under the curve of 2D:4D in right hand in male was 0.72 (95% CI 0.683-0.753, p<0.001), while it was 0.602 (95% CI 0.565-0.639, p<0.001) in left hand (Figure 1). The optimal cutoff point of digit ratio for CAD discrimination in male was 0.9505 in both hands with sensitivity 0f 57.8% and specificity of 68% in right hand, and 50.8% and 58.7% in left hand. But the area under the curve of both hands in female was not statistically significant.

Fig 1.

Fig 1

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The ROCs analyzing 2D:4D ratio and CAD in male. The ROCs analysis showed that area under the curve of 2D:4D in male was 0.72 and 0.602 in right and left hand respectively (all, p<0.001).

Discussion

The sex difference in the ratio of 2D:4D such that male subjects have lower 2D:4D than female subjects has be widely studied. 25-28 Development biology research has shown that the relative finger lengths are determined by in utero concentrations of sex steroid before birth at around week 13 of gestation, with 2D:4D negatively related to testosterone and positively associated with estrogen. 26,27 Inspired by this phenomenon, Manning et al suggested that 2D:4D may correlate with risk of myocardial infarction (MI). From then on, there have been in total four studies which linked CAD with 2D:4D. 20-23

The present study shows that the 2D:4D is positively correlated with CAD in men. This is consistent with the findings of Manning and Ozdogmus 20,23 in which a low 2D:4D men tended to have their first MI's later in life than men with high 2D:4D ratios and a higher 2D:4D ratio was significantly related to the incidence of fatty streaks and atherosclerosis calcification of the right coronary artery. Also in accord with Fink and Kyriakidis 21,22 who found a correlation between 2D:4D and neck circumference or MI in men but not in women, we showed that the same correlation between 2D:4D and CAD existed only in men. The ROCs analysis showed that area under the curve of 2D:4D was 0.72 in right hand and 0.60 in left hand in male. This suggested again the discriminating effect of 2D:4D for CAD, especially in male right hand.

As for the sex difference in 2D:4D, Manning et al reported in Europe 21,27 that the mean male 2D:4D ratio was significantly lower than mean female 2D:4D in left-hand and right-hand 2D:4D. In accordance with the data in China 18,29, we found that men showed significantly smaller 2D:4D ratios than women in right and left hands. The ROCs analysis showed that the optimal cutoff point of digit ratio for CAD discrimination in male was 0.9505 in both hands with sensitivity 0f 57.8% and specificity of 68% in right hand, and 50.8% and 58.7% in left hand. In addition, Manning reported that 2D:4D ratio in right hand was lower in males than in females and this was significant for Uygur, Han Chinese and Jamaican samples, with the Oriental Han showing the highest mean 2D:4D, followed by the Caucasian Berbers, Uygurs and Afro-Caribbean individuals 24. For 2D:4D difference between persons with and without CAD, this study was consistent with work done in Greece, as 2D:4D was higher in men with CAD than men in control group (both hands, P < 0.001), but the trends were not observed in women 22. Regarding the influence of age on the 2D:4D ratio, our results were in agreement with previous report in different nations, that is the 2D:4D ratio was fixed at birth and showed little change during the life span 12,22.

The mechanisms of the link between 2D:4D and CAD are not clear. 2D:4D is negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively related to prenatal estrogen levels 30, while the prenatal sex hormones may affect the development of a number of organ systems including the cardiovascular system, so the unbalanced prenatal sex hormones exposure may be the main aetiology 31. This was supported by Phillips who reported that free testosterone was significantly related to CAD in postmenopausal women 32. The 2D:4D ratio and testosterone have been shown to be related also in adulthood 33. If low digit ratios are related to higher testosterone, and some evidence points lower testosterone could be considered a risk factor for CAD, then testosterone, digit ratio and CAD might be related.

Although both male and female sex hormones have been well-documented to be able to influence vascular biology and to play an important role in coronary artery disease 3-5,34-37, the steroid theory was not echoed by other studies. Yang found that 2D:4D ratios, measures of masculine characteristics, and salivary testosterone showed no significant associations with one another in both male and female 18. Hauner detected no relationship between sex hormone concentrations and coronary artery disease assessed by angiography in men 38.

Contrasting to the above theory, a study in Italy reported that patients with CAD have lower testosterone and oestradiol levels than healthy controls, and low testosterone levels are associated with coronary artery disease in male patients with angina 6. A case-control study in Brazil concluded that endogenous oestradiol but not testosterone was related to coronary artery disease in men 37.

Since the circulation levels of sex hormone are not consistently related with CAD, another possibility was put forward. Alevizaki reported that the length of the poly glutamine stretch of the transactivation domain (CAG repeat) of the androgen receptor inversely affects androgen activity and the shorter CAG repeat of the androgen receptor gene is associated with more severe CAD 39. Zheng et al 40 showed that the 2D:4D ratio in mice is controlled by the balance of androgen to estrogen signaling during a narrow window of digit development. Androgen receptor activity is higher in digit 4 than in digit 2, and inactivation of androgen receptor decreases growth of digit 4, which causes a higher 2D:4D ratio. These results suggest that the sensitivity to androgens may play an important role in the increased frequency of CAD in males.

It is undoubtedly the case that more studies are needed to elucidate the real causal relationship and the underlining mechanisms between 2D:4D ratios and CAD.

The present findings of positive correlations between 2D:4D ratio and CAD in males suggests that high 2D:4D ratio is predictive of CAD and may be used in diagnosis and in early life-style intervention in Chinese men.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Tianran Wu from Melbourne University of Australia to read through the manuscript and give some valuable suggestions.

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