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Diagonal earlobe creases and atheromatous disease: a postmortem study
V Patel1, C Champ, P S Andrews
1Department of Medicine, Kettering General Hospital.
Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Earlobe creases are linked to a higher risk of atherosclerosis. This study found that significant earlobe creases nearly doubled the risk of death from atherosclerosis in men and more than tripled it in women.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pathology
Background:
- Atheromatous disease, a form of arteriosclerosis, is a significant cause of mortality worldwide.
- The earlobe crease has been anecdotally associated with cardiovascular disease, but requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the grade of earlobe creases and the degree of atheromatous disease.
- To determine if earlobe creases can serve as a clinical indicator for atherosclerosis risk.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem examinations of 376 individuals were conducted.
- Earlobe creases were graded from 0 to 3 for each earlobe.
- Causes of death, including atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, were recorded.
Main Results:
- A grade 3 earlobe crease in both ears was associated with a nearly doubled risk of death from atherosclerosis in men.
- Women with bilateral high-grade creases had more than a threefold increased risk of death from atherosclerosis.
- The risk of death from myocardial infarction was 2.50 in men and 3.70 in women with high-grade earlobe creases.
Conclusions:
- The earlobe crease is a significant and observable sign of atheromatous disease.
- Incorporating earlobe crease assessment into routine clinical examinations may aid in identifying patients at higher risk for atherosclerosis.