Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Type 3 finger length pattern is associated with total knee replacements due to osteoarthritis but not with hip replacements or hand osteoarthritis in the elderly: The AGES-Reykjavik study

Authors: Kristin Sigurjonsdottir, Thorir M Bjorgulfsson, Thor Aspelund, Gudny Eiriksdottir, Sigurdur Sigurdsson, Thorvaldur Ingvarsson, Tamara B Harris, Lenore Launer, Vilmundur Gudnason, Helgi Jonsson

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Recent case–control studies have shown an association between type 3 finger length pattern (longer ring finger than index finger) and knee osteoarthritis. This large cross-sectional study tests the hypothesis that the type 3 pattern is associated with total joint replacements due to osteoarthritis in a large population based study.

Methods

Finger length ratios were assessed visually on 5170 hand photographs (2975 females, 2195 males, mean age 76). In this population-based multidisciplinary study of aging in Reykjavik, Iceland, the prevalence of osteoarthritis associated total knee replacements was 223(4.3%) and total hip replacements 316(6.1%). We then performed a binary logistic regression analysis for total knee replacements and total hip replacements, including finger length patterns, osteoarthritis at other sites and other variables with possible association to osteoarthritis such as age, BMI and bone mineral density of the spine.

Results

The prevalence of the type 3 pattern was 50% (43% in females, 58% in males). The regression analysis revealed an odds ratio for total knee replacements of 1.65 (1.24-2.2) p = 0.0007, in the type 3 finger pattern group, similar in both genders. This association was independent of the associations we have previously reported between total knee replacements and BMI and the presence of hand osteoarthritis. No association was seen between finger length patterns and total hip replacements.

Conclusion

Finger length patterns read from digital photographs in this large study confirm previous radiographic observations with significant associations between the type 3 pattern and total knee replacements but not total hip replacements in both genders in this elderly group.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Felson DT, Lawrence RC, Dieppe PA, Hirsch R, Helmick CG, Jordan JM, Kington RS, Lane NE, Nevitt MC, Zhang Y, Sowers M, McAlindon T, Spector TD, Poole AR, Yanovski SZ, Ateshian G, Sharma L, Buckwalter JA, Brandt KD, Fries JF: Osteoarthritis: new insights. Part 1: the disease and its risk factors. Ann Intern Med. 2000, 133 (8): 635-646. 10.7326/0003-4819-133-8-200010170-00016.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Manning JT, Scutt D, Wilson J, Lewis-Jones DI: The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length: a predictor of sperm numbers and concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and oestrogen. Hum Reprod. 1998, 13 (11): 3000-3004. 10.1093/humrep/13.11.3000.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Lutchmaya S, Baron-Cohen S, Raggatt P, Knickmeyer R, Manning JT: 2nd to 4th digit ratios, fetal testosterone and estradiol. Early Hum Dev. 2004, 77 (1–2): 23-28.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Zheng Z, Cohn MJ: Developmental basis of sexually dimorphic digit ratios. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011, 108 (39): 16289-16294. 10.1073/pnas.1108312108.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
5.
Honekopp J, TM J, Muller C: Digit ratio (2D:4D) and physical fitness in males and females: Evidence for effects of prenatal androgens on sexually selected traits. Horm Behav. 2006, 49 (4): 545-549. 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2005.11.006.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Manning JT: The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length and performance in skiing. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2002, 42 (4): 446-450.PubMed
7.
Manning JT, Taylor RP: Second to fourth digit ratio and male ability in sport: implications for sexual selection in humans. Evol Hum Behav. 2001, 22 (1): 61-69. 10.1016/S1090-5138(00)00063-5.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Paul SN, Kato BS, Hunkin JL, Vivekanandan S, Spector TD: The big finger: the second to fourth digit ratio is a predictor of sporting ability in women. Br J Sports Med. 2006, 40 (12): 981-983. 10.1136/bjsm.2006.027193.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Manning JT, Barley L, Walton J, Lewis-Jones DI, Trivers RL, Singh D, Thornhill R, Rohde P, Bereczkei T, Henzi P, Soler M, Szwed A: The 2nd:4th digit ratio, sexual dimorphism, population differences, and reproductive success. evidence for sexually antagonistic genes?. Evol Hum Behav. 2000, 21 (3): 163-183. 10.1016/S1090-5138(00)00029-5.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Coates JM, Gurnell M, Rustichini A: Second-to-fourth digit ratio predicts success among high-frequency financial traders. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2009, 106 (2): 623-628. 10.1073/pnas.0810907106.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Manning JT, Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Sanders G: The 2nd to 4th digit ratio and autism. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2001, 43 (3): 160-164.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Stevenson JC, Everson PM, Williams DC, Hipskind G, Grimes M, Mahoney ER: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and digit ratios in a college sample. Am J Hum Biol. 2007, 19 (1): 41-50. 10.1002/ajhb.20571.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Rahman AA, Lophatananon A, Stewart-Brown S, Harriss D, Anderson J, Parker T, Easton D, Kote-Jarai Z, Pocock R, Dearnaley D, Guy M, O’Brien L, Wilkinson RA, Hall AL, Sawyer E, Page E, Liu JF, Eeles RA, Muir K: Hand pattern indicates prostate cancer risk. Br J Cancer. 2011, 104 (1): 175-177. 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605986.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Jung H, Kim KH, Yoon SJ, Kim TB: Second to fourth digit ratio: a predictor of prostate-specific antigen level and the presence of prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2011, 107 (4): 591-596. 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2010.09490.x.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Ferraro B, Wilder FV, Leaverton PE: Site specific osteoarthritis and the index to ring finger length ratio. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2010, 18 (3): 354-357. 10.1016/j.joca.2009.11.001.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Zhang W, Robertson J, Doherty S, Liu JJ, Maciewicz RA, Muir KR, Doherty M: Index to ring finger length ratio and the risk of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2008, 58 (1): 137-144. 10.1002/art.23237.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Haugen IK, Niu J, Aliabadi P, Felson DT, Englund M: The associations between finger length pattern, osteoarthritis, and knee injury: data from the Framingham community cohort. Arthritis Rheum. 2011, 63 (8): 2284-2288. 10.1002/art.30408.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
18.
Harris TB, Launer LJ, Eiriksdottir G, Kjartansson O, Jonsson PV, Sigurdsson G, Thorgeirsson G, Aspelund T, Garcia ME, Cotch MF, Hoffman HJ, Gudnason V: Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study: multidisciplinary applied phenomics. Am J Epidemiol. 2007, 165 (9): 1076-1087. 10.1093/aje/kwk115.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Jonsson H, Helgadottir GP, Aspelund T, Sverrisdottir JE, Eiriksdottir G, Sigurdsson S, Eliasson GJ, Jonsson A, Ingvarsson T, Harris TB, Launer L, Gudnason V: The use of digital photographs for the diagnosis of hand osteoarthritis: the AGES-Reykjavik study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012, 13: 20-10.1186/1471-2474-13-20.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
20.
Jonsson H, Helgadottir GP, Aspelund T, Eiriksdottir G, Sigurdsson S, Siggeirsdottir K, Ingvarsson T, Harris TB, Launer L, Gudnason V: Hand Osteoarthritis Severity is Associated with Total Knee Joint Replacements Independently of BMI. The Ages-Reykjavik Study. Open Rheumatol J. 2011, 5: 7-12. 10.2174/1874312901105010007.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Bennett M, Manning JT, Cook CJ, Kilduff LP: Digit ratio (2D:4D) and performance in elite rugby players. J Sports Sci. 2010, 28 (13): 1415-1421. 10.1080/02640414.2010.510143.CrossRefPubMed
22.
23.
Fink B, Grammer K, Mitteroecker P, Gunz P, Schaefer K, Bookstein FL, Manning JT: Second to fourth digit ratio and face shape. Proc Biol Sci. 2005, 272 (1576): 1995-2001. 10.1098/rspb.2005.3179.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
Haverkamp DJ, Schiphof D, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Weinans H, Waarsing JH: Variation in joint shape of osteoarthritic knees. Arthritis Rheum. 2011, 63 (11): 3401-3407. 10.1002/art.30575.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Hunter DJ, Niu J, Zhang Y, Nevitt MC, Xu L, Lui LY, Yu W, Aliabadi P, Buchanan TS, Felson DT: Knee height, knee pain, and knee osteoarthritis: the Beijing Osteoarthritis Study. Arthritis Rheum. 2005, 52 (5): 1418-1423. 10.1002/art.21017.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Tanamas SK, Wijethilake P, Wluka AE, Davies-Tuck ML, Urquhart DM, Wang Y, Cicuttini FM: Sex hormones and structural changes in osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Maturitas. 2011, 69 (2): 141-156. 10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.03.019.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Muller DC, Giles GG, Bassett J, Morris HA, Manning JT, Hopper JL, English DR, Severi G: Second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and concentrations of circulating sex hormones in adulthood. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2011, 9: 57-10.1186/1477-7827-9-57.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
28.
Paul SN, Kato BS, Cherkas LF, Andrew T, Spector TD: Heritability of the second to fourth digit ratio (2d:4d): A twin study. Twin Res Hum Genet. 2006, 9 (2): 215-219. 10.1375/twin.9.2.215.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Spector TD, MacGregor AJ: Risk factors for osteoarthritis: genetics. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2004, 12: S39-44.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Panoutsopoulou K, Southam L, Elliott KS, Wrayner N, Zhai G, Beazley C, Thorleifsson G, Arden NK, Carr A, Chapman K, Deloukas P, Doherty M, McCaskie A, Ollier WE, Ralston SH, Spector TD, Valdes AM, Wallis GA, Wilkinson JM, Arden E, Battley K, Blackburn H, Blanco FJ, Bumpstead S, Cupples LA, Day-Williams AG, Dixon K, Doherty SA, Esko T, Evangelou E: Insights into the genetic architecture of osteoarthritis from stage 1 of the arcOGEN study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011, 70 (5): 864-867. 10.1136/ard.2010.141473.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Medland SE, Zayats T, Glaser B, Nyholt DR, Gordon SD, Wright MJ, Montgomery GW, Campbell MJ, Henders AK, Timpson NJ, Peltonen L, Wolke D, Ring SM, Deloukas P, Martin NG, Smith GD, Evans DM: A variant in LIN28B is associated with 2D:4D finger-length ratio, a putative retrospective biomarker of prenatal testosterone exposure. Am J Hum Genet. 2010, 86 (4): 519-525. 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.02.017.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Type 3 finger length pattern is associated with total knee replacements due to osteoarthritis but not with hip replacements or hand osteoarthritis in the elderly: The AGES-Reykjavik study
Authors
Kristin Sigurjonsdottir
Thorir M Bjorgulfsson
Thor Aspelund
Gudny Eiriksdottir
Sigurdur Sigurdsson
Thorvaldur Ingvarsson
Tamara B Harris
Lenore Launer
Vilmundur Gudnason
Helgi Jonsson
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-14-112

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2013 Go to the issue

Research article

Higher BMP/Smad sensitivity of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) isolated from the collagenase-induced tendon injury model: possible mechanism for their altered fate in vitro

Research article

Uphill treadmill running does not induce histopathological changes in the rat Achilles tendon

Research article

Physical therapy treatments for low back pain in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis

Research article

Bone health comparison in seven Asian countries using calcaneal ultrasound

Research article

Strength gain through eccentric isotonic training without changes in clinical signs or blood markers

Research article

Frequent use of blood-saving measures in elective orthopaedic surgery: a 2012 Dutch blood management survey