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Article: Finger Length Ratio May Predict Early MI Risk.(comparison of the length of the index finger with the length of the ring finger may help predict heart attack risk)
- Article from:
- Internal Medicine News
- Article date:
- July 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA -- Identification of individuals at risk for early MI may be as close as your fingertips--or more precisely, your patients' fingertips.
A high ratio of the length of the index finger to the length of the ring finger is associated with acute MI before age 55 in men, independent of age, smoking, or socioeconomic status. And this trait is assessable in childhood, according to John Manning, Ph.D.
Modern-day palmistry? Not at all, argued Dr. Manning, professor of biology at the University of Liverpool (England). But the digit ratio's sensitivity and specificity as a predictor of early MI clearly needs to be determined before any thought ...