Assessment of Digital Dermatoglyphics in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at the National Hospital Abuja

Dermatoglyphic patterns on the fingertips are determined by genetic and environmental factors during early foetal development and remain stable throughout life. Research has proposed associations between specific dermatoglyphic patterns and predisposition to certain diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. If such associations are validated in Nigerian populations, dermatoglyphics could serve as a low-cost screening marker in resource-limited settings. This study aims to assess digital dermatoglyphic patterns in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and compare them with healthy controls at the National Hospital Abuja, North Central Nigeria. Ink impression fingerprints will be collected from 100 diabetic patients and 100 matched controls. Pattern types, total finger ridge count, and the absolute finger ridge count will be analysed and compared between groups. Logistic regression analysis will determine the predictive value of specific dermatoglyphic features for type 2 diabetes. The study anticipates identifying reproducible differences in dermatoglyphic profiles between diabetic and non-diabetic participants that may support the development of a population-specific screening algorithm for type 2 diabetes risk.

Keywords: dermatoglyphics, type 2 diabetes, fingerprint patterns, ridge count, Abuja