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Taller Height’s Role in Venous Thromboembolism
J Thromb Haemost; ePub 2017 Jun 6; Roetker, et al
Taller height is linked with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in US adults of European ancestry, according to an analysis involving more than 1,600 individuals.
Participants—all of European ancestry—were from 2 cohort studies (n=476) and 1 case–control study (n=1,143). Investigators created 2 weighted genetic risk scores (GRSs) for height: A full GRS based on 668 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from a prior meta-analysis, and a restricted GRS that included a subset of 362 SNPs not linked with weight independently of height. Instrumental variable (IV) models were used to estimate odds ratios for VTE/10cm increment in height. Among the results:
- The pooled odds ratios from non- IV models was 1.27 per 10-cm greater height.
- These ratios using full and restricted GRSs as IVs were 1.34 and 1.45 per 10-cm greater height, respectively.
Roetker N, Armasu S, Pankow J, et al. Taller height as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism: A Mendelian randomization meta-analysis. [Published online ahead of print June 6, 2017]. J Thromb Haemost. doi:10.1111/jth.13719.