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. 2014 Mar;24(3):174-179.e2.
doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.11.008. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Height and risk of sudden cardiac death: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities and Cardiovascular Health studies

Michael A Rosenberg  1 , Faye L Lopez  2 , Petra Bůžková  3 , Selcuk Adabag  4 , Lin Y Chen  5 , Nona Sotoodehnia  6 , Richard A Kronmal  3 , David S Siscovick  6 , Alvaro Alonso  2 , Alfred Buxton  7 , Aaron R Folsom  2 , Kenneth J Mukamal  8
Affiliations

Height and risk of sudden cardiac death: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities and Cardiovascular Health studies

Michael A Rosenberg et al. Ann Epidemiol. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an important cause of mortality in the adult population. Height has been associated with cardiac hypertrophy and an increased risk of arrhythmias but also with decreased risk of coronary heart disease, suggesting a complex association with SCD.

Methods: We examined the association of adult height with the risk of physician-adjudicated SCD in two large population-based cohorts: the Cardiovascular Health Study and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

Results: Over an average follow-up time of 11.7 years in Cardiovascular Health Study, there were 199 (3.6%) cases of SCD among 5556 participants. In Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, over 12.6 years, there were 227 (1.5%) cases of SCD among 15,633 participants. In both cohorts, there was a trend toward decreased SCD with taller height. In fixed effects meta-analysis, the pooled hazard ratio per 10 cm of height was 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.98; P = .03. The association of increased height with lower risk of SCD was slightly attenuated after inclusion of risk factors associated with height, such as hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. The association appeared stronger among men than women in both cohorts.

Conclusions: In two population-based prospective cohorts of different ages, greater height was associated with lower risk of SCD.

Keywords: Body height; Cardiac; Death; Risk factors; Sudden.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 1A. Combined Meta-analysis. Combined Meta-Analysis. Base Model (BM): Adjusted for age, sex, race, study location, Smoking status (current, former, and never), and education. Risk Factors: Waist Circumference, HTN, resting heart rate (bpm), diabetes, prevalent heart failure, stroke, or coronary heart disease, and ECG-defined LVH. (Baseline Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.34; BL + Risk Factors Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.36). Note: Hazard ratio (HR) defined per 10cm of height. Figure 1B. Sex-stratified Meta-analysis. Base Model (BM): Adjusted for age, race, study location, Smoking status (current, former, and never), and education. Risk Factors: Waist circumference, HTN, resting heart rate (bpm), diabetes, prevalent heart failure, stroke, or coronary heart disease, and ECG-defined LVH. (Women: Baseline Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.86; BL + Risk Factors Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.61; Men: Baseline Meta-analysis I2 = 15.0%, p = 0.28; BL + Risk Factors Meta-analysis I2 = 36.6%, p = 0.21). ). Note: Hazard ratio (HR) defined per 10cm of height.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 1A. Combined Meta-analysis. Combined Meta-Analysis. Base Model (BM): Adjusted for age, sex, race, study location, Smoking status (current, former, and never), and education. Risk Factors: Waist Circumference, HTN, resting heart rate (bpm), diabetes, prevalent heart failure, stroke, or coronary heart disease, and ECG-defined LVH. (Baseline Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.34; BL + Risk Factors Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.36). Note: Hazard ratio (HR) defined per 10cm of height. Figure 1B. Sex-stratified Meta-analysis. Base Model (BM): Adjusted for age, race, study location, Smoking status (current, former, and never), and education. Risk Factors: Waist circumference, HTN, resting heart rate (bpm), diabetes, prevalent heart failure, stroke, or coronary heart disease, and ECG-defined LVH. (Women: Baseline Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.86; BL + Risk Factors Meta-analysis I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.61; Men: Baseline Meta-analysis I2 = 15.0%, p = 0.28; BL + Risk Factors Meta-analysis I2 = 36.6%, p = 0.21). ). Note: Hazard ratio (HR) defined per 10cm of height.
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