Table 1.
Cross-national Pearson correlations between normalized male 2D:4D and normalized male death rates from specific causes [Global Health Estimates summary tables (WHO 2014a)]
| r | p | p(FDR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All causes | − 0.43 | 0.0391 | 0.1485 |
| I. Communicable, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions | − 0.65 | 0.0008 | 0.0109 |
| A. Infectious and parasitic diseases | − 0.36 | 0.0896 | 0.1929 |
| 1. Tuberculosis | − 0.39 | 0.0666 | 0.1769 |
| 4. Diarrheal diseases | 0.12 | 0.6011 | 0.5271 |
| 6. Meningitis | − 0.09 | 0.6759 | 0.5504 |
| 7. Encephalitis | − 0.20 | 0.3698 | 0.4088 |
| 10. Parasitic and vector diseases | − 0.17 | 0.4319 | 0.4245 |
| 12. Other infectious diseases | − 0.26 | 0.2225 | 0.3381 |
| B. Respiratory infections | − 0.69 | 0.0003 | 0.0078 |
| 1. Lower respiratory infections | − 0.69 | 0.0003 | 0.0078 |
| D. Neonatal conditions | 0.15 | 0.4960 | 0.4635 |
| 1. Preterm birth complications | 0.31 | 0.1525 | 0.2484 |
| 4. Other neonatal conditions | − 0.25 | 0.2510 | 0.3460 |
| E. Nutritional deficiencies | − 0.31 | 0.1485 | 0.2484 |
| II. Non-communicable diseases | − 0.36 | 0.0948 | 0.1929 |
| A. Malignant neoplasms | − 0.24 | 0.2608 | 0.3460 |
| 1. Mouth and oropharynx cancers | − 0.37 | 0.0782 | 0.1853 |
| 2. Esophagus cancer | − 0.39 | 0.0683 | 0.1769 |
| 3. Stomach cancer | 0.19 | 0.3846 | 0.4136 |
| 4. Colon and rectum cancers | − 0.07 | 0.7574 | 0.5680 |
| 5. Liver cancer | − 0.07 | 0.7485 | 0.5680 |
| 6. Pancreas cancer | − 0.48 | 0.0211 | 0.1095 |
| 7. Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers | − 0.26 | 0.2333 | 0.3409 |
| 8. Melanoma and other skin cancers | − 0.02 | 0.9288 | 0.6618 |
| 14. Bladder cancer | − 0.03 | 0.8777 | 0.6333 |
| 15. Lymphomas, multiple myeloma | 0.45 | 0.0331 | 0.1485 |
| 16. Leukemia | − 0.15 | 0.4851 | 0.4609 |
| Other malignant neoplasms | − 0.18 | 0.4130 | 0.4240 |
| B. Other neoplasms | − 0.36 | 0.0926 | 0.1929 |
| C. Diabetes mellitus | − 0.05 | 0.8081 | 0.5905 |
| D. Endocrine, blood, immune disorders | − 0.24 | 0.2640 | 0.3460 |
| E. Mental and behavioral disorders | − 0.17 | 0.4289 | 0.4245 |
| 4. Alcohol use disorders | − 0.18 | 0.4166 | 0.4240 |
| 5. Drug use disorders | − 0.09 | 0.6986 | 0.5608 |
| 7. Eating disorders | − 0.21 | 0.3371 | 0.4003 |
| 11. Other mental and behavioral disorders | − 0.18 | 0.3993 | 0.4214 |
| F. Neurological conditions | − 0.56 | 0.0056 | 0.0456 |
| 1. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias | − 0.59 | 0.0032 | 0.0361 |
| 2. Parkinson’s disease | − 0.01 | 0.9768 | 0.6874 |
| 3. Epilepsy | − 0.29 | 0.1875 | 0.2968 |
| 4. Multiple sclerosis | − 0.25 | 0.2505 | 0.3460 |
| 7. Other neurological conditions | − 0.37 | 0.0787 | 0.1853 |
| H. Cardiovascular diseases | − 0.11 | 0.6266 | 0.5412 |
| 1. Rheumatic heart disease | − 0.35 | 0.1019 | 0.2003 |
| 2. Hypertensive heart disease | − 0.40 | 0.0585 | 0.1769 |
| 3. Ischemic heart disease | 0.44 | 0.0361 | 0.1485 |
| 4. Stroke | − 0.37 | 0.0813 | 0.1853 |
| 5. Cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, endocarditis | − 0.33 | 0.1183 | 0.2248 |
| 6. Other circulatory diseases | 0.13 | 0.5481 | 0.5039 |
| I. Respiratory diseases | − 0.40 | 0.0570 | 0.1769 |
| 1. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | − 0.10 | 0.6566 | 0.5485 |
| 2. Asthma | − 0.65 | 0.0007 | 0.0109 |
| 3. Other respiratory diseases | − 0.57 | 0.0043 | 0.0413 |
| J. Digestive diseases | − 0.50 | 0.0141 | 0.0805 |
| 1. Peptic ulcer disease | − 0.41 | 0.0522 | 0.1769 |
| 2. Cirrhosis of the liver | 0.08 | 0.7153 | 0.5663 |
| 3. Appendicitis | 0.26 | 0.2254 | 0.3381 |
| Other digestive diseases | − 0.44 | 0.0367 | 0.1485 |
| K. Genitourinary diseases | − 0.10 | 0.6640 | 0.5485 |
| 1. Kidney diseases | 0.12 | 0.5954 | 0.5271 |
| 3. Urolithiasis | − 0.40 | 0.0601 | 0.1769 |
| 4. Other genitourinary diseases | − 0.23 | 0.2846 | 0.3528 |
| L. Skin diseases | − 0.22 | 0.3191 | 0.3871 |
| M. Musculoskeletal diseases | 0.10 | 0.6406 | 0.5450 |
| Other musculoskeletal disorders | − 0.08 | 0.7271 | 0.5677 |
| N. Congenital anomalies | − 0.19 | 0.3729 | 0.4088 |
| 4. Congenital heart anomalies | − 0.20 | 0.3560 | 0.4088 |
| 5. Other chromosomal anomalies | − 0.31 | 0.1483 | 0.2484 |
| 6. Other congenital anomalies | − 0.17 | 0.4425 | 0.4275 |
| III. Injuries | − 0.39 | 0.0641 | 0.1769 |
| A. Unintentional injuries | − 0.32 | 0.1316 | 0.2345 |
| 1. Road injury | − 0.07 | 0.7561 | 0.5680 |
| 2. Poisonings | − 0.33 | 0.1282 | 0.2345 |
| 3. Falls | − 0.23 | 0.2847 | 0.3528 |
| 4. Fire, heat, and hot substances | − 0.24 | 0.2671 | 0.3460 |
| 5. Drowning | 0.12 | 0.5813 | 0.5259 |
| 7. Other unintentional injuries | − 0.20 | 0.3655 | 0.4088 |
| B. Intentional injuries | − 0.53 | 0.0090 | 0.0639 |
| 1. Self-harm | − 0.52 | 0.0109 | 0.0690 |
| 2. Interpersonal violence | − 0.05 | 0.8049 | 0.5905 |
The analyzed variables were normalized to their national means (= male value divided by the mean of the male and female values). A negative cross-national correlation between normalized male 2D:4D and normalized male death rates from specific causes means that lower (prenatally more androgenized) national male 2D:4D values (divided by the national mean of the male and female values) correlate with a higher national risk for cause-specific death in males (divided by the national mean of the male and female values). The normalized female parameters showed the same correlations. We calculated only correlations for which male and female causes of death estimates according to the Global Health Estimates summary tables (WHO 2014a) in all 23 countries included in this study were available. The following categories have been excluded due to missing national values: I: A2-3, A5, A8-9, A10a-k, A11, B2-3, C, D2-3, E1-5; II: A9-13, E1-3, E6, E8-10, F5-6, G, K2, K5-6, M1-4, N1-3, O; III: A6, B3. For national sex-specific right- and left-hand 2D:4D values, see Table 1 in Manning et al. (2014). Significant results (p < 0.05) are illustrated in bold letters. FDR False discovery rate