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Taller height as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism: a Mendelian randomization meta-analysis.

TitleTaller height as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism: a Mendelian randomization meta-analysis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsRoetker, NS, Armasu, SM, Pankow, JS, Lutsey, PL, Tang, W, Rosenberg, MA, Palmer, TM, MacLehose, RF, Heckbert, SR, Cushman, M, de Andrade, M, Folsom, AR
JournalJ Thromb Haemost
Date Published2017 Apr 26
ISSN1538-7836
Abstract<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Taller height is associated with greater risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).</p><p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>We used instrumental variable (IV) techniques (Mendelian randomization) to further explore this relationship METHODS: Participants of European ancestry were included from two cohort studies [Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS)] and one case-control study [Mayo Clinic VTE Study (Mayo)]. We created two weighted genetic risk scores (GRS) for height; the full GRS included 668 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from a previously published meta-analysis and the restricted GRS included a subset of 362 SNPs not associated with weight independently of height. Standard logistic regression and IV models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for VTE per 10 cm increment in height. ORs were pooled across the three studies using inverse variance weighted random effects meta-analysis RESULTS: Among 9143 ARIC and 3180 CHS participants free of VTE at baseline, there were 367 and 109 incident VTE events. There were 1143 VTE cases and 1292 controls included from Mayo. The pooled ORs from non-IV models and models using the full and restricted GRSs as IVs were 1.27 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.46), 1.34 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.73), and 1.45 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.01) per 10 cm greater height, respectively CONCLUSIONS: Taller height is associated with an increased risk of VTE in adults of European ancestry. Possible explanations for this association, including that taller people may have greater venous surface area, greater number of venous valves, or greater hydrostatic pressure, need to be explored further. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.</p>
DOI10.1111/jth.13719
Alternate JournalJ. Thromb. Haemost.
PubMed ID28445597
ePub date: 
17/04