



ORIGINAL ARTICLE Year : 2018 | Volume : 7 | Issue : 2 | Page : 49-53

Diagonal earlobe crease: Prevalence and association with medical ailments



Yugantara Ramesh Kadam MD 1, Yogesh M Shah MD (DVL) 2, Parth Kore MBBS 1

1 Department of Community Medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India

2 Department of DVL, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India



Date of Web Publication 23-Mar-2018

Correspondence Address:

Dr. Yugantara Ramesh Kadam

Department of Community Medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra

India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None Check

DOI: 10.4103/JCPC.JCPC_26_17



Abstract



Context: It has been hypothesized that diagonal earlobe crease (DELC), “Frank's sign” is indicative of coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or diabetes mellitus (DM). Several studies have confirmed an association between DELC and cardiac morbidity, mortality, and hypertension (HTN). However, some studies have not found any significant association. Aims: This study aims to find out the prevalence of DELC and its association with CAD, DM, and HTN. Settings and Design: Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Corporation area. This was a cross-sectional analytical study. Subjects and Methods: Study participants: Adults from 18 to 60 years age. Inclusion criteria: willing to participate in the study Exclusion criteria: Wearing heavy ear rings and excessive normal generalized wrinkling of the skin. Sample size: Sample size 6310, determined after a pilot study revealing DELC in 1.5%. Sampling technique: Two-stage cluster sampling. Duration of study: 6 months. Study tools: Predesigned, pilot tested pro forma. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 22 software. Prevalence and percentages were calculated, and Chi-square test was applied. Results: Out of 6638 participants, 179 had DELC. The prevalence of bilateral DELC was 2.7%. The prevalence was significantly high among males (4.13%) and in the 51–60 years age group (5.29%). The prevalence of Grade 3 DELC was high and 91% of young adults had Grade 3 DELC. There were 408 (6.15%) participants who gave a history of CAD, 827 (12.46%) of DM, and 670 (10.09%) HTN. Significantly high association observed between DELC and CAD, DM, and HTN. CAD, DM, and HTN were significantly associated with Grade 3. Conclusions: The prevalence of bilateral DELC was 2.7% and is significantly associated with CAD, DM, and HTN.



Keywords: Coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, diagonal earlobe crease, hypertension

How to cite this article:

Kadam YR, Shah YM, Kore P. Diagonal earlobe crease: Prevalence and association with medical ailments. J Clin Prev Cardiol 2018;7:49-53

How to cite this URL:

Kadam YR, Shah YM, Kore P. Diagonal earlobe crease: Prevalence and association with medical ailments. J Clin Prev Cardiol [serial online] 2018 [cited 2020 Sep 24];7:49-53. Available from: http://www.jcpconline.org/text.asp?2018/7/2/49/228338

Introduction

Subjects and Methods

Figure 1: Grade 1 – A small amount of wrinkling on the earlobe



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Figure 2: Grade 2a – Creased more than halfway across the earlobe



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Figure 3: Grade 2b – A superficial crease across the earlobe



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Figure 4: Grade 3 – A deep crease across the whole of the earlobe



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Results

Table 1: Age-wise distribution of persons with diagonal earlobe crease



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Table 2: Gender distribution of diagonal earlobe crease



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Table 3: Association between diagonal earlobe crease and medical ailments



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Discussion

Conclusions

References

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