Original Research Article Indian Journal of Clinical Anatomy and Physiology 2016;3(1):24-26 24 A study of 2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D:4D) in relation to hypertension in north Indian males and its implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease Ravinder Kumar Yadav 1 , Manju Bala 2,* 1 Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Shri Sukhmani Dental College and Hospital, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Punjab, India 2 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Medical College, MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India. *Corresponding Author: E-mail: drmanju14@yahoo.in Abstract The index finger to ring finger ratio (2D:4D) of the hands are affected by prenatal sex steroids. Furthermore, 2D:4D ratio is related to myocardial infarction and coronary artery diseases ,however no research has reported the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and hypertension in Indian male. In this study, we examined 2D:4D finger length ratio in 100 Indian male with history of hypertension and 100 controls without history of hypertension. The 2D:4D ratio was more in hypertensive group and p value was statistically significant in control & hypertensive group. It was higher in left hand among both the groups. This finding supports the suggestion of 2D:4Dratio to serve as a predictor for hypertension which is the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Keywords: Hypertension, 2D:4D, coronary artery disease Access this article online Quick Response Code: Website: www.innovativepublication.com DOI: 10.5958/2394-2126.2016.00007.4 Introduction Hypertension is one of the serious issue of medical and public health and its burden is remarkably increases throughout the regions of world both in developed and developing countries 1,2 . Hypertension is important risk factor for predicting cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases as well stroke 3 .In India with a population estimated at 1.1 billion, the prevalence of hypertension has been estimated to be 3%-34.5% in males and 5.8%-33.5% in females 4-7 . Various epidemiological evidence and studies shows the significant association of anthropometric measurements and indices like BMI (body mass index), WhtR (weight height ratio), WC(waist circumference) with hypertension as well cardiovascular disorders 8 . Recently, the 2D:4D ratio has received great attention to the researchers and they had found the relationship between 2D:4D ratio with traits like coronary heart diseases.2D:4D is sexually dimorphic, such that it is more prevalent in males. Studies have reported that men have lower 2D:4D ratio than women 9,10,11 . In human urogenital system and appendicular skelton are under the control of HOX genes. This common control of digit and gonad differentiation raises the possibility that digit formation may relate to spermatogenesis and hormonal concentration. Testosterone affects the development of digit including 2D:4D ratio and digit dermatoglyphics. As a result adult testicular activity is correlated with 2D:4D ratio 10 . Manning et al 11 reported 2D:4D ratio as a marker for testosterone and oestrogen in first trimester of pregnancy. Their study shows negative relationship between 2D:4D ratio and age of first MI, that is men with low 2D:4D ratio have tendency for first MI later in life than men with high 2D:4D ratio. Whereas Xing li wu et al 12 suggested the positive correlation between 2D:4D and coronary heart diseases in males. Similarly Fink et al 13 also reported positive correlation between 2D:4D and neck circumference for men after assessing body mass index than women. With best of our knowledge the effects of 2D:4D ratio on cardiovascular system have been shown in means of myocardial infarction, neck circumference and atherosclerotic formation, the association between 2D:4D ratio and hypertension have not been shown in the literature yet which is one of the important risk factor for CAD. So present study aimed to find out the association between 2D:4D ratio and hypertension in north Indian males. Material and Method The present study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Mullana, (Ambala) on 200 adult male subjects:- 100 with known case of hypertension and 100 without any history of hypertension after given informed consent .The male subjects were above age of 18 yrs - 50 yrs. Ethical approval was granted by the institutional committee. Subjects with apparent anomalies, inflammation, trauma, deformities and surgery of hand (if any) were excluded.