Dermatoglyphics and body composition in obstructive sleep apnea

Obesity is the main risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and genetic patterns can modulate the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study is to describe the anthropometrics and dermatoglyphics features among OSAS carriers. We collected information on Body Mass Index (BMI), Conicity Index (CI), Body Fat Mass (BFM), somatotype and fingerprints. Thirty-one cases of OSAS were compared to an equal number of controls. Membership to the obese category is based on observed BMI and BFM. The CI distribution among cases shows a strong central obesity component. The endomorph-mesomorph somatotype category predominates among cases showing high adiposity and relative muscle-skeletic development, such as relative linearity of great mass per unit of height. increased morbidity, as given by more serious indices of apnea, correlates positively with higher mesomorphic predominance in the body composition. Analysis of dermatoglyphic data does not show significant statistical differences between OSAS patients and controls.