11 Sep Tall Height Is a Risk Factor For Venous Thromboembolism

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Bengt Zöller, MD, PhD
Associate professor in Internal Medicine
Specialist Physician in Clinical Chemistry
Specialist Physician in Family Medicine
Lund University/ Region Skåne
Center for Primary Health Care Research
University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Previous studies have suggested an association between height and venous thromboembolism but association might be confounded. We therefore permed a Nationwide study including a cohort of siblings -a co sibling analysis to adjust for familial confounders (genetic and shared familial environmental factors).

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: A strong an consistent association between height and venous thromboembolism  (VTE) in both men and women that was not attenuated in the co-sibling analysis suggesting that tall height is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: That tall height is an important risk factor for venous thromboembolism that should be considered in the clinic.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: I would suggest that height should be included in risk assessment models for venous thromboembolism for better prediction-this is an important research task. Another issue is whether height is a risk factor for recurrent VTE or not. This has not been studied. 

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: Height is nothing we can do anything about therefore it is extra important for tall people to manage their weight (BMI is a risk factor for VTE) and also not to smoke and to be physically Active in order to reduce other  venous thromboembolism risk factors. 

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Body Height and Incident Risk of Venous Thromboembolism
A Cosibling Design
Bengt Zöller, Jianguang Ji, Jan Sundquist, Kristina Sundquist
Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. 2017;10:e001651
Originally published September 5, 2017

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on September 11, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD