Bartoszek Adrian, Sawic Magdalena, Pierzchała Karol, Kudrycka Aleksandra, Białasiewicz Piotr, Kuczyński Wojciech
Department of Bioanalytics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Independent Unit of Spectroscopy and Chemical Imaging, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025 Jan 16;15:1480963. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1480963. eCollection 2024.
The 2D:4D digit ratio (DR), representing the relative length of the index finger to the ring finger, is an anthropometric marker that shows sexual dimorphism, with males typically having a lower ratio than females. This parameter is linked to prenatal androgen exposure (PAE), which influences sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between PAE and sleep among young adults.
Anthropometric measurements were used to assess PAE, while sleep was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), actigraphy, and polysomnography (PSG). Data was collected from 720 participants via surveys, with 290 completing all questionnaires. Of these, 138 underwent anthropometric measurements, and 38 were further recruited for actigraphy, PSG.
Men exhibited a lower 2D:4D ratio than women, indicating higher PAE. The average PSQI score was 6.94 ± 2.98, and the MEQ score was 35.43 ± 19.59, with no significant gender differences in sleep quality or chronotype. Low PAE was associated with better sleep efficiency and a morning chronotype, but worse sleep quality in males. Actigraphy results showed no significant differences based on PAE. PSG data revealed that males with longer 2nd fingers and higher 2D:4D ratios were more likely to suffer from mild sleep apnea, a pattern not observed in women. PAE did not significantly impact other sleep architecture parameters.
PAE, indicated by the 2D:4D ratio, is linked to sleep efficiency and chronotype, with significant gender differences. Men with lower PAE exhibited poorer sleep quality, and those with certain finger length patterns were more prone to mild sleep apnea. These findings underscore the potential long-term impacts of PAE on sleep health and emphasize the need for further research into gender-specific sleep regulation mechanisms.
2D:4D指长比（DR）代表食指与无名指的相对长度，是一种显示两性差异的人体测量指标，男性的该比例通常低于女性。这一参数与产前雄激素暴露（PAE）有关，PAE会影响大脑和行为的性别分化。本研究旨在调查年轻人中PAE与睡眠之间的相关性。
采用人体测量评估PAE，同时使用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（PSQI）、晨型-夜型问卷（MEQ）、活动记录仪和多导睡眠图（PSG）评估睡眠。通过调查从720名参与者收集数据，其中290人完成了所有问卷。在这些人中，138人接受了人体测量，38人进一步被招募进行活动记录仪和PSG检查。
男性的2D:4D比例低于女性，表明PAE较高。PSQI平均得分为6.94±2.98，MEQ得分为35.43±19.59，睡眠质量或昼夜节律类型在性别上无显著差异。低PAE与更好的睡眠效率和晨型昼夜节律类型相关，但男性的睡眠质量较差。活动记录仪结果显示，基于PAE无显著差异。PSG数据显示，食指较长且2D:4D比例较高的男性更易患轻度睡眠呼吸暂停，女性未观察到这种模式。PAE对其他睡眠结构参数无显著影响。
以2D:4D比例表示的PAE与睡眠效率和昼夜节律类型有关，存在显著的性别差异。PAE较低的男性睡眠质量较差，而具有特定手指长度模式的男性更易患轻度睡眠呼吸暂停。这些发现强调了PAE对睡眠健康的潜在长期影响，并强调需要进一步研究性别特异性睡眠调节机制。
