Abstract P379: Leg Length, Marker of Environmental Exposition During Early Lifetime, and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Intrauterine and early life factors such as low birth weight, not being breastfed, smoking parents, and other socioeconomic conditions have been associated with later predisposition to chronic diseases. Although there still exists controversy in which is the best marker for environmental exposition during early lifetime, leg length has been one of the most accepted. Hypothesis: There is an inverse relationship between leg length and subclinical cardiovascular disease (sCVD). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a sub sample of 2,038 women from the Mexican Teacher’s Cohort. Participants underwent anthropometry during clinical assessments. Trunk length was calculated as the height measured in seated position minus the height of the stool participants were sitting on. Leg length was defined as height minus trunk length. Carotid intima media thickness(CIMT) was measured by trained neurologists through standardized ultrasound and log-transformed. We defined sCVD as CIMT ≥0.8 mm or the presence of plaque. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to estimate the association between leg length quartiles with CIMT and sCVD respectively. Results: Mean height was 153.8 cm and mean leg length was 72 cm. The prevalence of sCVD was 23%(469 of 2038). Participants with shorter legs were likely to report low birthweight, indigenous origin, rural residence, and low socioeconomic environment. We observed an inverse relationship between leg length and mean IMT when we compared the lowest(median 67cm) to the highest quartile(median 77.1 cm) ( multivariable-adjusted mean % difference= -2.93; 95% CI-5.53,-0.32 ). In contrast to the lowest quartile, the multiple-adjusted odds ratio for sCVD in the highest quartile was 0.58( 95% CI 0.34, 0.98 ). Additional analysis controlling for mediators such as weight, diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia weakened the association but remained significant. Conclusion: We found a significant association between leg length, CIMT and sCVD in a population of middle-aged Mexican women.