title: Evaluation of association between digital dermatoglyphic traits and type-2 diabetes in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes is a very serious problem in the world today. In particular, the incidence of type-2 diabetes is rising in developing countries because of life style changes to that of westernized societies. Type-2 diabetes is usually a late onset disease. Thus, early identification of risk group individuals through a non-invasive method like dermatoglyphics will be very helpful.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To see whether finger print pattern (dermatoglyphics) is associated with type-2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermatoglyphic data were obtained from nondiabetic and type-2 diabetic subjects attending the Diabetic Clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) using a computer-assisted data capture system. The data were then analysed for association between the dermatoglyphic pattern and the subjects' health status with respect to type-2 diabetes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total finger ridge count (TFRC) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in diabetic subjects than in non-diabetics. Results of cluster analysis suggested that dermatoglyphic pattern is associated with type-2 diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the association between finger print pattern and type-2 diabetes, dermatoglyphics may be used for early identification of risk group individuals for surveillance purposes with a view to preventing disease onset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, (New Science Complex), University of Lagos, Lagos 101017, Nigeria. tai_dex@yahoo.com
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Taiwo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, (New Science Complex), University of Lagos, Lagos 101017, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adebanjo
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria