Objectives: The significant differences in the fingerprint pattern frequencies in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and controls could be a possible way to identify patients with a risk of developing T2DM. The results could be used in the earlier diagnosis and treatment. The study was undertaken to find out the reliability of fingerprint patterns as a possible predictive tool for T2DM diagnosis.
Methods: A total of 1,260 fingerprints were acquired using the optical contact sensor DactyScan 26i. The results of the qualitative analysis of the fingerprint pattern frequencies have been compared between T2DM patients and controls and also between the fingers to each other. We have detected the frequency of patterns: plain arch (Ap) and tented arch (At), radial loop (Lr), ulnar loop (Lu), double loop (Ld), spiral whorl (W), and plain whorl (concentric) (Wp). Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's chi-square by Statistica ver. 12.
Results: We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the frequency of individual dermatoglyphic patterns among patients with diabetes and healthy controls as follows: in the left thumb (L1) in a radial loop, double loop and spiral whorl pattern; in the left middle finger (L3) in a tented arch and radial loop; in the right ring finger (R4) in a tented arch, spiral and plain whorl; and in the right little finger (R5) in a tented arch and spiral whorl.
Conclusion: Fingerprint pattern frequencies might be used as another screening tool and indicator in T2DM prevention. Qualitative analysis of fingerprint patterns could be useful regarding the additional prevention diagnostics of T2DM in the population.
Keywords: dermatoglyphics; diabetes prevention; diabetes screening; fingerprints.