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The predictive value of diagonal ear-lobe crease sign
1Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
Insights
The diagonal ear-lobe crease (ELC) sign shows a significant association with coronary artery disease (CAD) in non-cardiac patients. However, its low positive predictive value limits its clinical utility for diagnosing CAD.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- The diagonal ear-lobe crease (ELC) sign has been linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) in cardiac patients.
- Its predictive value in non-cardiac populations requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the ELC sign as a predictor of CAD in patients without pre-existing cardiac conditions.
- To compare the association of ELC with CAD against established cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study assessing the presence of ELC in a non-cardiac patient cohort.
- Statistical analysis to determine the association between ELC, CAD history, and other risk factors.
Main Results:
- A significant association was observed between the ELC sign and a history of CAD, independent of age.
- The ELC sign demonstrated a higher correlation with CAD than other traditional risk factors.
- Sensitivity was 48%, specificity 88%, with a positive predictive value of only 16%.
Conclusions:
- While an association exists, the diagonal ear-lobe crease sign has limited clinical value for predicting CAD in this non-cardiac patient population.
- Further research may be needed to clarify the role of ELC in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Abstract:
Studies on selected cardiac patients have supported the association between diagonal ear-lobe crease (ELC) sign and coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to assess the value of this sign as a predictor of the presence of CAD in the non-cardiac patient population, to see if any association exists between the two and to compare any association with other established risk factors. A significant association exists between ELC and a history of CAD, which is not solely attributable to the increased prevalence of the sign with increasing age. A higher correlation was found between CAD and ELC than between CAD and other risk factors. The sensitivity of the sign was 48%, the specificity 88%, and the positive predictive value 16%. In this population the finding of an ELC is of little clinical value.