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Digit ratios and their asymmetries as risk factors of developmental instability and hospitalization for COVID-19

A Kasielska-Trojan1, J T Manning2, M Jabłkowski3

  • 1Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Clinic, Institute of Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego 22, 90-153, Lodz, Poland. annakas@toya.net.pl.

Scientific Reports
|March 18, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Digit ratio differences, particularly involving the fifth digit (5D), may indicate developmental instability and predict COVID-19 hospitalization. Greater unsigned digit ratio asymmetry suggests increased risk due to prenatal and postnatal factors.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Human biology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Most COVID-19 cases are mild, but some progress to severe illness requiring hospitalization.
  • Developmental instability, indicated by digit ratios and asymmetries, may reflect prenatal hormone exposure and postnatal stressors.
  • The predictive value of digit ratios for COVID-19 severity remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if digit ratios and their asymmetries predict hospitalization in COVID-19 patients.
  • To compare digit ratio patterns between hospitalized COVID-19 patients and controls.

Main Methods:

  • Examined six digit ratios (2D:3D, 2D:4D, 2D:5D, 3D:4D, 3D:5D, 4D:5D) in 54 COVID-19 patients and 100 controls.
  • Analyzed right-hand, left-hand ratios, directional asymmetry (right-left), and unsigned asymmetry |(right-left)|.
  • Calculated composite asymmetry for the two largest effects (2D:4D + 3D:5D).

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 patients showed altered digit ratios compared to controls, notably in ratios including the fifth digit (5D).
  • Patients exhibited significantly greater unsigned asymmetry |(right-left)|, especially in 2D:4D and ratios involving 5D.
  • Composite asymmetry showed a large effect size difference between patients and controls (d=1.04), independent of sex.

Conclusions:

  • Digit ratio patterns, particularly those involving the fifth digit, differ between COVID-19 patients and controls.
  • Increased unsigned digit ratio asymmetry in patients may indicate developmental perturbations from stressors.
  • Digit ratio asymmetry could serve as a marker for potential COVID-19 severity.

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