FINGERPRINT PATTERN DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS AND NORMAL INDIVIDUALS AMONG EGYPTIAN POPULATION: A PILOT STUDY FROM CAIRO, EGYPT

Abstract

Fingerprints are skin markings delineated by epidermal ridge patterns present on the skin of the hands’ fingers and palms. There is a positive association between fingerprint distribution and different diseases like diabetes mellitus, making it a useful tool for its prediction. The study aimed to determine if fingerprint pattern distribution could be used as an early screening tool for predicting type II diabetes among at risk Egyptian populations. This study was carried out on 138 patients with type II diabetes mellitus diagnosed at the diabetic clinic, Al kasr Alainy hospital, Cairo city, between September and December 2019. Another 138 participants were included as a control group for this study. The fingerprint distribution pattern between the diabetics and the control showed insignificant (p>0.05) differences except for whorls which showed significantly lesser distribution among diabetics. The ulnar, radial, and double loops were insignificantly (p>0.05) more, while the arch & composite patterns were insignificantly (p>0.05) lesser in diabetics compared to control. The study concluded that the distribution pattern of a fingerprint is not a definitive predictive tool for type II diabetes mellitus.