Short stature and coronary heart disease: a 35-year follow-up of the Finnish cohorts of The Seven Countries Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether short stature is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.


METHODS
Follow-up study.


METHODS
Two geographically defined areas in eastern and western Finland.


METHODS
A total of 1441 men who were free of coronary heart disease at the start of the follow-up.


METHODS
Hazard ratios for fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease


RESULTS
Height was inversely related to fatal coronary heart disease and incident non-fatal coronary heart disease during the follow-up. These relationships persisted after adjusting for other major cardiovascular risk factors. Comparing the high-risk area in eastern Finland with the low-risk area in south-western Finland, no difference in fatal coronary heart disease and cumulative incidence of non-fatal coronary heart disease was seen in tall men. The increase in risk of coronary heart disease death was 19% for a 10 cm decrease in height (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68-0.95).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that short stature is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. Differences in stature partly explain the Finnish east-west difference in the incidence of coronary heart disease.
Forsén
T
T
Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Eriksson
J
J
Qiao
Q
Q
Tervahauta
M
M
Nissinen
A
A
Tuomilehto
J
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height; D002423:Cause of Death; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects