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Diagonal earlobe creases and fatal cardiovascular disease: a necropsy study
N Kirkham1, T Murrells, D H Melcher
1Department of Pathology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.
Insights
Diagonal earlobe creases are associated with a higher risk of fatal cardiovascular disease. This finding suggests a potential link between physical traits and serious heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Diagonal earlobe creases (DELC) have been anecdotally linked to cardiovascular disease.
- Previous studies suggest a correlation, but robust data from necropsy series are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the presence of diagonal earlobe creases and fatal cardiovascular disease in a coroner's necropsy series.
- To determine if DELC are a significant indicator of cardiovascular mortality.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive series of 303 coroner's necropsies were analyzed.
- Data collected included cause of death, earlobe type, presence of DELC, age, sex, height, and medical history (cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus).
Main Results:
- Diagonal earlobe creases were present in 72% of men and 67% of women.
- A cardiovascular cause of death was observed in 73% of individuals with DELC, compared to 45% without.
- DELC were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death (1.55 in men, 1.74 in non-diabetic women).
Conclusions:
- The presence of diagonal earlobe creases is significantly associated with a higher risk of fatal cardiovascular disease.
- DELC may serve as a visible indicator for increased cardiovascular risk.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Abstract:
The association between diagonal earlobe creases and fatal cardiovascular disease was investigated in a consecutive series of 303 coroner's necropsies. Those studied all died outside hospital in the Brighton Health District. Data were analysed on the cause of death and on the type of earlobe, the presence or absence of diagonal creases, age, sex, height, and any previous history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus. The age of nine men and six women was not known. Cardiovascular causes of death included ischaemic and hypertensive disease, calcific valvar stenosis, ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, and ruptured atheromatous aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. The mean (SD) age at death was 72 (15) and the male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Diagonal creases were present in 123 (72%) of 171 men and 88 (67%) of 132 women. A previous history of cardiovascular disease was present in 90 (30%) of the total of 303 and 74 (35%) of the 211 with diagonal creases. A cardiovascular cause of death was present in 154 (73%) of 211 with and 41 (45%) of 92 without diagonal creases and was associated with an increased risk of a cardiovascular cause of death of 1.55 in men and 1.74 in non-diabetic women.