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Fernández Ascariz L, Rivas Mundiña B, García Mato E, Limeres Posse J, Alonso Sampedro M, González Quintela A, Gude Sampedro F, Diz Dios P. Frank's Sign and Cardiovascular Risk: An Observational Descriptive Study. Am J Med 2024; 137:47-54. [PMID: 37832754 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was undertaken to analyze the relationship between the diagonal earlobe crease and the main indices of cardiovascular risk, considering the crease's anatomical variations. METHODS The study group consisted of 1050 adults residing in Spain. Participants underwent the following determinations: age, sex, body mass index, smoking habit, blood pressure, glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular risk was calculated applying the Framingham-Anderson equation, the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation equation, and the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score calculator. Both earlobes were examined, recording diagonal earlobe crease presence, length and depth, and presence of accessory creases. Results were analyzed by using chi-square test, Student's t test, analysis of variance, and Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests. To extract the functions of cardiovascular risk, a script in R was created (https://cran.r-project.org/). RESULTS The estimated cardiovascular mortality risk was significantly higher in individuals who presented diagonal earlobe crease (P < .001). The number of individuals with moderate, high, or very high cardiovascular risk increased significantly as the presence of the crease increased (23.8% had no crease, 35.6% had unilateral creases, and 58% had bilateral creases; P < .001). The mean cardiovascular risk estimated was significantly higher for individuals with longest and deepest diagonal earlobe crease (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively), and with accessory creases (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The diagonal earlobe crease is independently associated with higher cardiovascular risk scores, especially when the crease is complete, bilateral, deep, and has accessory creases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Fernández Ascariz
- Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Berta Rivas Mundiña
- Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Eliane García Mato
- Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jacobo Limeres Posse
- Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuela Alonso Sampedro
- Research Methods Group (RESMET), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Arturo González Quintela
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Clinical Internal Medicine, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Francisco Gude Sampedro
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS-ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Concepción Arenal Primary Care Center, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Pedro Diz Dios
- Medical-Surgical Dentistry Research Group (OMEQUI), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Earlobe crease relationship with coronary atherosclerotic burden and pericardial adiposity. COR ET VASA 2022. [DOI: 10.33678/cor.2021.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Sekiguchi A, Inoue Y, Yamazaki S, Uchiyama A, Ishikawa O, Kuribayashi S, Uraoka T, Hara K, Yamaguchi K, Maeno T, Uchida M, Koyama H, Motegi SI. Prevalence and clinical characteristics of earlobe crease in systemic sclerosis: Possible association with vascular dysfunction. J Dermatol 2020; 47:870-875. [PMID: 32424835 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.15400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) develop various vasculopathy-induced vascular disorders such as Raynaud's phenomenon, abnormal nail-fold capillaries, persistent digital ischemia, digital ulcers (DU), and sometimes develop renal crisis and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), affecting prognosis. Earlobe crease (ELC), also known as Frank's sign, is a wrinkle extending from the tragus to the outer border of the earlobe and is generally recognized as the sign of cardiovascular events. However, no previous study analyzed the association between ELC and SSc. In this study, we examined the prevalence and clinical characteristics of ELC in SSc patients. We analyzed 145 Japanese SSc patients and found that the prevalence of ELC in SSc patients was 23.4% (43/145), similar to that previously reported in the general population without SSc. Using univariate analysis, we found that SSc patients with ELC were characterized by old age, high incidence of DU, ILD and PAH, and high complication of coronary artery diseases (CAD) compared with SSc patients without ELC. In multivariate analysis, ELC was significantly associated with old age and incidence of DU. PAH tended to correlate with ELC without statistical significance. These results suggest that ELC may be associated with vascular disorders in SSc patients. This is the first report concerning the prevalence and clinical characteristics of ELC in patients with SSc. ELC is very easy to detect in clinical practice and helps physicians to identify SSc patients at risk of developing vascular disorders such as DU and PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Sekiguchi
- Departments of, Department of, Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Yuta Inoue
- Departments of, Department of, Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Sahori Yamazaki
- Departments of, Department of, Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Akihiko Uchiyama
- Departments of, Department of, Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Osamu Ishikawa
- Departments of, Department of, Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Shiko Kuribayashi
- Department of, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Toshio Uraoka
- Department of, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Hara
- Department of, Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kouichi Yamaguchi
- Department of, Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Toshitaka Maeno
- Department of, Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Uchida
- Department of, Public Health, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Koyama
- Department of, Public Health, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Sei-Ichiro Motegi
- Departments of, Department of, Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
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Bawaskar HS, Bawaskar PH, Bawaskar PH. Diagonal ear lobe crease: A premonitory diagnostic sign of impeding ischemic heart disease. J Family Med Prim Care 2018; 7:1361-1367. [PMID: 30613525 PMCID: PMC6293914 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_181_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In India, significant number of individuals suffers from ischemic heart disease (IHD). Majority of chest pain victim initially report to his family physician. At times, sudden death is the first and last manifestation of IHD. Doctors are aware of various risk factors for IHD. The diagonal ear lobe crease (DELC) has been characterized in medical literature as a surrogate marker which can be easily identified as high-risk case for impending IHD. We report here the incidence of IHD accompanied with DELC in rural population. Patients and Methods: Eight hindered and eighty eight patients attended to general physician Mahad during January 2012 to December 2015 with complaints of chest pain were investigated for presence of DELC. Presence of DELC was correlated to varies risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), body mass index (BMI), occipital baldness, and tobacco consumption. Results: Out of patients studied, 645 (72.6%) had hypertension, 508 (57.2%) had DELC, of these 486 (95%) suffered from IHD, 246 (48%) had DM, 246 (48%) had occipital baldness, and 325 (64%) had hyperlipidemia. Significant association between BMI > 25+ in male >50 years old with odd ratio 2.08 (95% CI: 1.27–3.39; P = 0.003). Interpretation: Presence of DELC with or without risk factors is a simple clinical observation easily noted during examination by family physician to investigate and to rule out IHD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Parag Himmatrao Bawaskar
- Department of Cardiology, Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Diagonal Earlobe Crease is a Visible Sign for Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Amyloid-β. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13397. [PMID: 29042572 PMCID: PMC5645376 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13370-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the frequency and clinical significance of diagonal earlobe crease (DELC) in cognitively impaired patients using imaging biomarkers, such as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on MRI and amyloid-β (Aβ) PET. A total of 471 cognitively impaired patients and 243 cognitively normal (CN) individuals were included in this study. Compared with CN individuals, cognitively impaired patients had a greater frequency of DELC (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.2, P = 0.007). This relationship was more prominent in patients with dementia (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2–2.7, P = 0.002) and subcortical vascular cognitive impairment (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6–3.6, P < 0.001). Compared with Aβ-negative cognitively impaired patients with minimal WMH, Aβ-positive patients with moderate to severe WMH were significantly more likely to exhibit DELC (OR 7.3, 95% CI 3.4–16.0, P < 0.001). We suggest that DELC can serve as a useful supportive sign, not only for the presence of cognitive impairment, but also for cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and Aβ-positivity. The relationship between DELC and Aβ-positivity might be explained by the causative role of CSVD in Aβ accumulation.
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Honma M, Shibuya T, Iwasaki T, Iinuma S, Takahashi N, Kishibe M, Minami-Hori M, Ishida-Yamamoto A. Prevalence of coronary artery calcification in Japanese patients with psoriasis: A close correlation with bilateral diagonal earlobe creases. J Dermatol 2017; 44:1122-1128. [PMID: 28464401 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Psoriasis is a multifactorial inflammatory disorder, in which the inflammation affects not only the skin but also the other internal organs, and can induce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular involvements. However, few predictive factors of cardiovascular diseases have been clarified in patients with psoriasis. This study was performed to verify whether diagonal earlobe creases (ELC) can reflect the hidden comorbidities in Japanese psoriatic patients. Prevalence and subtypes of ELC were analyzed in patients with psoriatic and with non-psoriatic skin diseases, and the correlation with coronary artery calcification (CAC) or fatty liver (FL) detected by computed tomography. Prevalence of CAC was approximately twice higher than data of a Japanese resident-based study previously reported. Generally, prevalence of ELC in a psoriatic group and mean age of psoriatic groups accompanied by ELC were higher and younger than those of a non-psoriatic skin disease group, respectively. Statistically significant differences were detected in the mean age of total or male subjects accompanied by bilateral ELC with complete and incomplete length. Bilateralism of ELC was closely correlated with prevalence of CAC and CAC on multiple branches in psoriatic patients (P = 6.6e-6 and odds ratio [OR] = 14.1, P = 0.00884 and OR = 10.7, respectively), but not with that of FL. On the contrary, body mass index of more than 25 was closely correlated with prevalence of FL, but not that of CAC. Comorbidities of psoriatic patients are frequently unnoticed. ELC, an apparatus-related feature, can be a useful predictive factor for hidden coronary artery involvements in psoriatic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Honma
- Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takashi Shibuya
- Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Takeshi Iwasaki
- Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Shin Iinuma
- Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | | | - Mari Kishibe
- Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Masako Minami-Hori
- Department of Dermatology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
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