Loss of height predicts total and cardiovascular mortality: a cohort study of northern European women

[helvella]

I think we might loss of height as a marker. But as I read through this and some of the newspaper versions I was struck:

Strenuous exercise was a "good thing". But how did they separate that out between those who have a condition which means ability to do strenuous exercise is severely limited or totally removed?

They are right to suggest looking as a marker rather than a cause. But:

We know that B12 deficiency affects bone.

We know that thyroid hormone deficiency or excess affects bone.

Why do we miss so many cases of both?

Epidemiology

Original research

Loss of height predicts total and cardiovascular mortality: a cohort study of northern European women

Abstract

Objective To examine height changes in middle-aged northern European women in relation to overall and cardiovascular mortality.

Design Population-based cohort studies with longitudinally measured heights and register-based mortality.

Setting Sweden and Denmark.

Participants Population-based samples of 2406 Swedish and Danish women born on selected years in 1908–1952, recruited to baseline examinations at ages 30–60, and re-examined 10–13 years later.

Main outcome measure Total and cardiovascular disease (CVD) specific mortality during 17–19 years of follow-up after last height measure.

Results For each 1 cm height loss during 10–13 years, the HR (95% CI) for total mortality was 1.14 (1.05 to 1.23) in Swedish women and 1.21 (1.09 to 1.35) in Danish women, independent of key covariates. Low height and high leisure time physical activity at baseline were protective of height loss, independent of age. Considering total mortality, the HR for major height loss, defined as height loss greater than 2 cm, were 1.74 (1.32 to 2.29) in Swedish women and 1.80 (1.27 to 2.54) in Danish women. Pooled analyses indicated that height loss was monotonically associated with an increased mortality, confirming a significant effect above 2 cm height loss. For cause-specific mortality, major height loss was associated with a HR of 2.31 (1.09 to 4.87) for stroke mortality, 2.14 (1.47 to 3.12) for total CVD mortality and 1.71 (1.28 to 2.29) for mortality due to causes other than CVD.

Conclusion Height loss is a marker for excess mortality in northern European women. Specifically the hazard of CVD mortality is increased in women with height loss during middle age, and the results suggest that the strongest cause-specific endpoint may be stroke mortality. The present findings suggest attention to height loss in early and mid-adulthood to identify women at high risk of CVD, and that regular physical activity may prevent early onset height loss.

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/...

[greygoose]

I thought loss of height was inevitable with aging. I've lost quite a bit. But, I'm not going to panic because I know how these people love to jump to conclusions and put the cart before the horse! lol Next study, please!

[DippyDame in reply to greygoose]

My reaction too!I've lost nearly 2 ins. and see no reason to lose sleep over it!!

[greygoose in reply to DippyDame]

Yes, me too, about 2 ins. And I was never a giant to begin with! Shorter than my parents and brother, a lot shorter than my kids!

[Tythrop]

What comes first? The chicken (thyroid or other illness) or the egg (loss of height). If you feel ill day in day out strenuous exercise is out of the question, but is it the lack of strenuous exercise or the illness that is the problem?

[humanbean in reply to Tythrop]

Personally, I think it is the illness.

[Miffie]

I thought most people lost height with age. Several of my friends who have never had any thyroid health issues have shrunk. I have had hypothyroidism since my thyroid was destroyed by radiation as a baby/ toddler in the early 1950s as yet no shrinking for me. I have never been tall peaking at 150cm ( interestingly the last 3centimetres of growth happened after my first child was born and I was 25) .

I love how others are now coming down to meet me.

[naryshkin in reply to Miffie]

Hypothyroidism seems to run in my family and affected women are rarely any taller than 155cm (157 is pushing it). No shrinking among the older ones, interestingly.

[Miffie in reply to naryshkin]

I suspect I have not tall genes as I do not have autoimmune thyroiditis. My thyroid was destroyed by radiation. I have known three ladies with congenital hypothyroidism. It would appear they were unaffected by the lack of stature as they towered over me. I had never ever heard of any link between height and hypothyroidism. The people who I have known with hyperthyroidism and subsequent thyroid removal have been taller than I am but it’s not hard to be over 150cm. 🤣.

[naryshkin in reply to Miffie]

No, all we do is tower over primary school pupils like some playground bullies! Imagine how scary we must be 😉

[Miffie in reply to naryshkin]

I know Primary school children a good bit taller than I am including sone of my grandson’s friends, they ain’t scared luckily. I taught in Secondary schools and most of my pupils were taller than me. I had a number of tactics to avoid looking foolish! 😁

[penny in reply to naryshkin]

177cm.

[Rapunzel]

I used to tower over my hubby in my Ferragamos; now I'm shorter than him even in my stockinged feet .

We all know how this ends...

TBH I'm at the point now where I can't care too much. Prevalent endocrinological thinking has left me sourcing my own meds and losing height (and the ability to wear heels without falling flat on my tush). Oh that they were the only consequences of a fouled up thyroid.

At least we have a forum of fellow thyroidies to keep us up to speed. Thanks, Rod. 😗

[penny]

I remember seeing a programme which said that ones ability to rise from sitting on the ground, without using ones arms, was an indication of longevity. My late mother would have been unable to do this from the age of 35 and lived until she was 97. That’s one black swan.

They do come out with some howlers.