Park CS, et al. - This study investigated the comprehensive link between height, cardiovascular (CV)-related morbidity and all-cause death according to age. Findings indicated a strong association of shorter height in adulthood with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), stroke and all-cause death. Data also suggested that a suitable environment and appropriate nutrition early in life could impact adult height and eventually attenuate the risk of CV events and mortality.

Methods

• Researchers explored the link between adult height and myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), stroke incidence and mortality in 16 528 128 Korean patients who underwent regular health check-ups (2005–08).
• Height was stratified by decile according to age (20–39 years, 40–59 years and ≥60 years) and gender.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that during a 9-year follow-up period, 590 346 participants died and 232 093 were admitted to hospital for MI, 201 411 for HF and 267 566 for stroke.
• Researchers observed an inverse relationship between height and MI, HF, stroke and all-cause death in the overall cohort analysis.
• They noted that the link was unchanged after adjusting for CV risk and behavioural and adulthood socioeconomic factors.
• Data also revealed that both male and female sex showed an inverse relationship with height in adulthood, CV events and mortality.
• In addition, adult height showed an inverse association in all CV events and mortality, especially in the older groups (≥40 years).
• In a subgroup analysis of body mass index, findings indicated an inverse relationship between height, CV events and mortality in each group.