Key result
Short stature was associated with an approximately twofold increased risk of heart attack compared to the tallest men, but this association disappeared after adjusting for lung function (FEV1).
Why the study?
Does short stature independently increase the risk of major ischaemic heart disease events in middle-aged men?
Population
7,735 middle-aged men in the British Regional Heart Study
Comparison
Short stature (shortest quintile of height) vs Tallest quintile of height
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
7.5 years
Authors
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Short stature's heart attack association attenuates after FEV1 adjustment; leaves open lung function mediation in observational cohorts.
Cohort (n=7,735)
Does short stature independently increase the risk of major ischaemic heart disease events in middle-aged men?
Effect estimate: approximately twice as great risk
p-value: p=<0.001
The apparent increased risk of heart attack associated with short stature is not an independent risk factor, but is instead largely explained by confounding from reduced lung function (FEV1) and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Walker et al. (1989) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular disease (n=7,735). Short stature vs. Tallest quintile of men was evaluated on Major ischaemic heart disease event (approximately twice as great risk, p=<0.001). Short stature was associated with an approximately twofold increased risk of heart attack compared to the tallest men, but this association disappeared after adjusting for lung function (FEV1).
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