OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of index finger-to-ring finger (2D:4D) length ratio with radiographic knee and hand osteoarthritis (OA), previous knee injury, and meniscal lesions in the general population. METHODS: We measured the length of the right second and fourth phalangeal and metacarpal bones on hand radiographs from 1,020 randomly recruited subjects (ages 51-92 years). Knee radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed on subjects. Women and men were divided into tertiles according to their 2D:4D phalangeal and metacarpal ratios. We assessed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for radiographic knee OA, severe symptomatic knee OA, radiographic hand OA, previous knee injury, and MRI-defined meniscal lesion, using logistic regression with adjustment for age and body mass index. Because hand OA may affect the 2D:4D phalangeal ratio, we performed sensitivity analyses in subjects without joint space narrowing in the second and fourth interphalangeal joints. RESULTS: We found no significant associations between 2D:4D length ratio and radiographic knee OA, severe symptomatic knee OA, or meniscal lesions. Low 2D:4D phalangeal ratio was associated with hand OA in women (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11-2.93), but in the sensitivity analysis, the association was attenuated (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.79-2.32). Low 2D:4D phalangeal ratios were associated with knee injury in men (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.02-3.10). We found no significant associations for 2D:4D metacarpal ratios. CONCLUSION: Low 2D:4D phalangeal ratios in men are associated with knee injury, but we did not find any significant association with knee OA. Low 2D:4D length ratio may be a consequence, rather than a cause, of hand OA in women.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of index finger-to-ring finger (2D:4D) length ratio with radiographic knee and hand osteoarthritis (OA), previous knee injury, and meniscal lesions in the general population. METHODS: We measured the length of the right second and fourth phalangeal and metacarpal bones on hand radiographs from 1,020 randomly recruited subjects (ages 51-92 years). Knee radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed on subjects. Women and men were divided into tertiles according to their 2D:4D phalangeal and metacarpal ratios. We assessed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for radiographic knee OA, severe symptomatic knee OA, radiographic hand OA, previous knee injury, and MRI-defined meniscal lesion, using logistic regression with adjustment for age and body mass index. Because hand OA may affect the 2D:4D phalangeal ratio, we performed sensitivity analyses in subjects without joint space narrowing in the second and fourth interphalangeal joints. RESULTS: We found no significant associations between 2D:4D length ratio and radiographic knee OA, severe symptomatic knee OA, or meniscal lesions. Low 2D:4D phalangeal ratio was associated with hand OA in women (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11-2.93), but in the sensitivity analysis, the association was attenuated (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.79-2.32). Low 2D:4D phalangeal ratios were associated with knee injury in men (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.02-3.10). We found no significant associations for 2D:4D metacarpal ratios. CONCLUSION: Low 2D:4D phalangeal ratios in men are associated with knee injury, but we did not find any significant association with knee OA. Low 2D:4D length ratio may be a consequence, rather than a cause, of hand OA in women.
Authors: Ida K Haugen; Martin Englund; Piran Aliabadi; Jingbo Niu; Margaret Clancy; Tore K Kvien; David T Felson Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2011-05-27 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Martin Englund; Ali Guermazi; Daniel Gale; David J Hunter; Piran Aliabadi; Margaret Clancy; David T Felson Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2008-09-11 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: D T Felson; R C Lawrence; P A Dieppe; R Hirsch; C G Helmick; J M Jordan; R S Kington; N E Lane; M C Nevitt; Y Zhang; M Sowers; T McAlindon; T D Spector; A R Poole; S Z Yanovski; G Ateshian; L Sharma; J A Buckwalter; K D Brandt; J F Fries Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2000-10-17 Impact factor: 25.391