title: Relationships of Measured and Genetically Determined Height With the Cardiac Conduction System in Healthy Adults.
abstract: Increasing height is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We hypothesized that height-related differences in electric conduction could be potential mediators of this relationship.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 2149 adults aged 25 to 41 years from the general population. Height was directly measured, and a resting 12-lead ECG obtained under standardized conditions. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between measured height and ECG parameters. Mendelian randomization analyses were then performed using 655 independent height-associated genetic variants previously identified in the GIANT consortium. Median age was 37 years, and median height was 1.71 m. Median PR interval, QRS duration, and QTc interval were 156, 88, and 402 ms, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, β-coefficients (95% confidence intervals) per 10 cm increase in measured height were 4.17 (2.65-5.69; P<0.0001) for PR interval and 2.06 (1.54-2.58; P<0.0001) for QRS duration. Height was not associated with QTc interval or the Sokolow-Lyon index. An increase of 10 cm in genetically determined height was associated with increases of 4.33 ms (0.76-7.96; P=0.02) in PR interval and 2.57 ms (1.33-3.83; P<0.0001) in QRS duration but was not related to QTc interval or Sokolow-Lyon index.
  
  
  
  In this large population-based study, we found significant associations of measured and genetically determined height with PR interval and QRS duration. Our findings suggest that adult height is a marker of altered cardiac conduction and that these relationships may be causal.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thériault
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bossard
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aeschbacher
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernet
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krisai
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.).
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paré
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine (T.K., S.A., P.K., S.B., D.C.), Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (T.K., M.B., S.A., S.B., P.K., S.B., D.C.), and Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (M.B.), University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Population Health Research Institute, David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute (S.T., M.B., G.P., D.C.) and Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (S.T., G.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Division of Cardiology, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada (M.B.); Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr. Risch, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein (M.R., L.R.); Division of Laboratory Medicine, Kantonspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland (M.R.); Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria (L.R.); Private University, Triesen, FL (L.R.); and Center for Arrhythmia Prevention, Division of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.M.A.). david.conen@usb.ch.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001827:Body Height; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: atrial fibrillation; electrocardiography; epidemiology; heart rate; risk factors