Height loss predicts subsequent hip fracture in men and women of the Framingham Study.

Abstract

Although height is a risk factor for osteoporotic fracture, current risk assessments do not consider height loss. Height loss may be a simple measurement that clinicians could use to predict fracture or need for further testing. The objective was to examine height loss and subsequent hip fracture, evaluating both long-term adult height loss and recent height loss. Prospective cohort of 3081 adults from the Framingham Heart Study. Height was measured biennially since 1948, and cohort followed for hip fracture through 2005. Adult height loss from middle-age years across 24 years and recent height loss in elderly years were considered. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate association between height loss and risk of hip fracture. Of 1297 men and 1784 women, mean baseline age was 66 years (SD = 7.8). Average height loss for men was 1.06 inches (0.76), and for women was 1.12 inches (0.84). A total of 11% of men and 15% of women lost ≥2 inches of height. Mean follow-up was 17 years, during which 71 men and 278 women had incident hip fractures. For each 1-inch of height loss, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.4 in men [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00, 1.99], and 1.04 in women (95% CI: 0.88, 1.23). Men and women who lost ≥2 inches of height had increased fracture risk (compared with 0 to <2 inches) of borderline significance: men HR = 1.8, 95% CI: 0.86, 3.61; women HR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.76. Recent height loss in elders significantly increased the risk of hip fracture, 54% in men and 21% in women (95% CI: 1.14, 2.09; 1.03, 1.42, respectively). Adult height loss predicted hip fracture risk in men in our study. Recent height loss in elderly men and women predicted risk of hip fracture.