Shorter Body Height Research Articles

Adult Body Height Is Associated with the Risk of Type 2 but Not Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 783,029 Individuals in Germany

Diabetes mellitus is a major global health burden associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although a short adult body height has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), there are large inconsistencies between the studies. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between body height and T2D in a large cohort of adult outpatients in Germany. A total of 783,029 adult outpatients with available body height data from the Disease Analyzer (IQVIA) database were included in Germany between 2010 and 2020. The incidence of diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2) was evaluated as a function of the patients' body height stratified by age, sex, and body-mass-index (BMI). In both women and men in all age groups, incidence of T2D decreased with the increasing body height (<50, 51-60, 61-70, and >70 years). There was no association between the body height and the individual HbA1c value. In multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusted for patient age and BMI, hazard ratios for the development of T2D were 1.15 (95% CI: 1.13-1.17) for each 10 cm decrease in body height in women and 1.10 (95% CI: 1.09-1.12) in men. No significant association was found between body height and the development of T1D. We present the first data from a large cohort of outpatients in Germany, providing strong evidence for an association between adult body height and T2D. These data add to the current literature and might help in implementing body height into existing diabetes risk stratification tools to further reduce morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Sex-related associations between body height and cognitive impairment among low-income elderly adults in rural China: a population-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundBody height is a marker of childhood health and cumulative net nutrition during growth periods. However, sex-specific associations between body height and cognitive impairment are not well known in northern rural China.MethodsWe assessed sex differences in the association between body height and cognitive impairment in a low-income elderly population in rural China. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2014 to August 2014 to collect basic information from elderly residents aged 60 years and older in rural areas of Tianjin, China. Body height and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were measured, and the relationships between these variables were assessed.ResultsA total of 1081 residents with a mean age of 67.7 years were enrolled in this study. After adjusting for age, educational attainment, smoking status, drinking status, and the presence of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, higher body height was found to be associated with a decreased prevalence of cognitive impairment in elderly men. Each 1-dm increase in height was associated with a 37% decrease in the prevalence of cognitive impairment. However, there was no significant association between body height and cognitive impairment among elderly women.ConclusionIn conclusion, shorter body height was related to cognitive impairment independently of age, educational attainment, lifestyle factors, and health-related comorbid factors among low-income elderly men in rural China. Accordingly, shorter elderly men may be targeted for effective dementia prevention in rural China.

Self-selection of gestational lumbopelvic posture and bipedal evolution.

Not all pregnant women seem to select the more curved lumbopelvic posture that their sexual dimorphic anatomy allows even though many previous researchers have assumed lumbopelvic curvature to be standard during pregnancy. This study is vital to understanding coevolution of lumbopelvic sexual dimorphism and bipedalism, and understanding some clinical implications of intervening in gestational posture changes. Are there anthropometric changes that correspond with selection of lumbopelvic curvature change during pregnancy? What are the biomechanical costs and benefits of gestational lumbopelvic curvature change? Twenty pregnant women were tested at five different times in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. Lumbopelvic posture, standing kinetics and gait kinetics were measured longitudinally. Additionally, we modeled the effects on standing and gait without lumbopelvic postural changes, but with anthropometric changes, for each individual. We found greater lumbopelvic angulation to correspond with a shorter body height (6 cm difference between groups, p = 0.048) and deeper 2nd trimester abdomen (2 cm difference between groups, p = 0.013). Lumbopelvic angulation lowers support requirements (in standing and walking (6% lower support impulse, p = 0.056), but at the cost of shifting the propulsive actions to a less efficient pulling action rather than pushoff (13 % reduction in pushoff time, p = 0.001). We observed minimal effects on walking kinematics and balance control. Our findings suggest the evolutionary advantage of the female lumbopelvic unit is the adaptability it provides to adjust for the individual needs of the pregnant woman. We discuss multiple potential contributing factors that may have shaped hominin female lumbopelvic evolution and are involved in self-selecting lumbopelvic posture.

Risk factors and outcomes of unrecognised endobronchial intubation in major trauma patients

BackgroundEmergency tracheal intubation during major trauma resuscitation may be associated with unrecognised endobronchial intubation. The risk factors and outcomes associated with this issue have not previously been fully defined.MethodsWe retrospectively...

Significant neuropsychiatric symptoms: three mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB cases, two of whom were siblings with a novel NAGLU gene mutation

ABSTRACT Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IIIB patients present with marked neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric problems and not with typical MPS symptoms such as coarse facial features, organomegaly, or short body height, especially at the first presentation. We present three pediatric cases, two of which are sisters with novel NAGLU gene mutations, to emphasize that diagnosis of MPS type IIIB should be remembered in patients presenting with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric problems such as delayed speech, autistic-like symptoms, severe behavioral and sleep problems, motor deterioration or idiopathic intellectual disability with or without refractory epilepsy, especially if there is aconsanguineous marriage.

Differences in bone mineral density and morphometry measurements by fixed versus relative offset methods in high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), which enables in vivo analysis of bone morphometry, is widely used in osteoporosis research. The scan position is usually determined by the fixed offset method; however, there are concerns that the scan position can become relatively proximal if limb length is short. The present study compared bone mineral density and morphometry measured using the fixed and relative offset methods, in which the scan position is determined based on the lengths of the forearm and lower leg, and investigated factors responsible for measurement differences between the two methods. A total of 150 healthy Japanese subjects, comprising 75 men and 75 women, with a mean age of 45.1years, were enrolled in this study. The distal radius and tibia were scanned using the fixed and relative offset methods; the fixed offset method involved scanning the radius and tibia at 9mm and 22mm, respectively, proximal to their distal articular surfaces. By contrast, the relative offset method entailed scanning the radius at 4% of the forearm length and the tibia at 7.3% of the lower leg length, proximal to their respective distal articular surfaces. The percent overlap between the scan positions of the two methods was measured using the scout views. Measurement values obtained with the two methods were compared. The correlation between the differences in the values among the two methods and forearm length, lower leg length, and body height was examined. The subjects had a mean height of 164.3±14.3cm, mean forearm length of 252.9±17.3mm, and mean lower leg length of 346.7±22.3mm. The mean percent overlap was 85.0±9.1% (59.2-99.6%) for the radius and 79.8±12.5% (48.3-99.8%) for the tibia. Fixed offset scanning yielded higher total volumetric bone mineral density (Tt.vBMD) and cortical vBMD (Ct.vBMD) and greater cortical thickness (Ct.Th) (all p<0.001). The differences between the two methods in terms of Tt.vBMD, Ct.vBMD and Ct.Th were significantly greater with shorter forearm length, lower leg length, and body height (radius: 0.51<|r|<0.63, tibia: 0.61<|r|<0.95). Measurements of bone mineral density and morphometry obtained using the fixed offset method differed from those obtained using the relative offset method, which takes body size into account. Shorter body height, forearm length, and lower leg length were found to correlate with greater measurement differences. In populations with smaller stature, use of the fixed offset method results in relatively proximal images; thus, caution should be exercised when comparing groups of different height.

Evaluation of the associations of body height with blood pressure and early-stage atherosclerosis in Chinese adults.

Body height has been recently related to the risk of coronary heart disease and metabolic risk factors. However, data are scarce regarding the relationship between body height and early-stage atherosclerotic changes, especially in Chinese individuals. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively examine the associations of body height with early-stage atherosclerosis and blood pressure in Chinese adults. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV), carotid artery-dorsalis pedis pulse wave velocity (cdPWV), and body height were measured in 5098 men and women. All samples were obtained from a community-based health examination survey in central China. After adjusting for sex, age, weight, fasting glucose level, lipid level, creatinine, and heart rate, low body heights were significantly associated with higher cfPWV, crPWV, and blood pressure (all P for trend <.01), whereas no significant association was found between body height and cdPWV. In addition, we found a significant interaction between prehypertension status and body height in relation to cfPWV, after adjusting for covariates (P for interaction=.0024). The associations were stronger in participants with prehypertension than in those with normal blood pressure. Compared to the group with the tallest stature and normal blood pressure, individuals in the group with the shortest stature and prehypertension had nearly a 2.5m/s higher cfPWV. These results indicate that short body height was associated with an increased risk of early-stage atherosclerosis in Chinese adults, independent of traditional cardiometabolic risk factors. Prehypertension might modify the association between body height and cfPWV.

Adult body height and age-related macular degeneration in healthy individuals: A nationwide population-based survey from Korea.

We sought to evaluate the relationship between adult body height and risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among healthy Koreans using nationwide population-based data. We analyzed data derived from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2011. Participants over 40 years of age were included in the sample after excluding individuals with systemic comorbidities or missing relevant data. The presence and severity of AMD were graded using fundus photographs. The relationship between body height and risk of AMD was determined using multiple logistic regression analyses. Among a total of 8,435 participants, 544 (6.45%) had AMD: 502 (5.95%) with early AMD and 42 (0.5%) with late AMD. In multivariate-adjusted analyses, taller body height was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of AMD (odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81–0.99), while body mass index (BMI) was not associated with AMD. An inverse association between body height and risk of AMD was observed most frequently in participants under 65 years of age (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70–0.94). Furthermore, body height showed an inverse association with risk of AMD among obese participants (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2) (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.93). Subgroup analysis by AMD type disclosed a significant inverse association between body height and early AMD (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79–0.97) but not late AMD. Our results suggest that shorter body height is independently associated with increased risk of AMD, especially early AMD, in a dose-response manner in people who are obese or under 65 years of age.

A longitudinal observational study of back pain incidence, risk factors and occupational physical activity in Swedish marine trainees

ObjectivesTo evaluate the occurrence of low back pain (LBP) and LBP that limits work ability, to identify their potential early risks and to quantify occupational physical activity in Swedish Armed...

Commentary: Short Body Height and Pre-pregnancy Overweight for Increased Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Commentary: Short Body Height and Pre-pregnancy Overweight for Increased Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Short Body Height and Pre-pregnancy Overweight for Increased Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Short height is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study aims to explore whether short height has a synergistic effect with pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and undue weight gain on the risk of GDM.Methods: We recruited 19,962 singleton pregnant women from their first antenatal care visit in urban Tianjin, China, between October 2010 to August 2012. At 24–28 weeks of gestation, women underwent a 50-g 1-h glucose challenge test (GCT) followed by a 75-g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) if the GCT result was ≥7.8 mmol/L. GDM was defined by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's cut-points. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis nested in the logistic regression analysis was used to identify a cutoff point of height for GDM. Additive interaction was used to test interactions between short height, pregnancy overweight/obesity and undue weight gain.Results: A total of 1,517 (or 7.6%) women developed GDM. The risk of GDM increased rapidly with a decreasing height from 158 cm and downwards. Using height ≥158 cm as the reference group, women with < 158 cm of height were at increased GDM risk (adjusted OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.18–1.75). Maternal overweight/obesity at the first antenatal care visit greatly enhanced the OR of short height for GDM (adjusted OR: 3.78, 95%CI: 2.84–5.03) with significant additive interaction (P < 0.05). However, the interaction between short height and undue weight gain was non-significant (P > 0.05).Conclusions: In Chinese pregnant women in urban Tianjin, height < 158 cm had a synergistic effect with pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity on the risk of GDM.

Association between maternal body height and risk of preterm birth

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal body height and risk of preterm birth. Methods: A total of 11 311 pregnant women who gave birth of live singletons were recruited from the Healthy Baby Cohort Study in Hubei province, China from September 2012 to October 2014. Finally 11 070 pregnant women were selected as study subjects. Data were collected by using questionnaires, their prenatal care records and medical records. The women were divided into 4 groups according to the quartiles distribution (<158 cm, 158- cm, 160- cm, and >164 cm). Gestational age was estimated according to maternal last menstrual time. Preterm birth was defined as delivering a live singleton infant at 28-37 weeks' gestational age. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between body height and preterm birth. Results: Among the 11 070 pregnant women, the incidence of preterm birth was 5.9%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that women in group with body height <158 cm had 46% (OR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.16-1.83) higher risk of giving preterm birth than those in group with body height >164 cm after adjustment for potential confounders. Every 1- cm increase in body height was associated with 3% lower risk of preterm birth (OR=0.97, 95%CI: 0.95-0.99). Conclusion: Shorter body height was a risk factor for preterm birth. It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring in pregnant women with short body height to reduce the risk of preterm birth.

Body shortness lowers belief in a just world: The mediating role of life satisfaction

Previous studies on body height in psychology mainly focus on how others perceive people with different body height and how body height affects an individual's self-perception. As being short is often associated with various unjust experiences, we aim to examine whether and how body height shapes people's lay belief about the world, specifically belief in a just world (BJW). We hypothesize that people with shorter body height would have lower level of BJW, and this effect can be mediated by life satisfaction. We conducted a survey among 182 college students in China to test our hypotheses. We found that individuals with shorter height had lower belief in a just world compared to their taller counterparts, and this effect can be partially mediated by life satisfaction. Implications for future research are discussed.

Femoral footprint of the popliteus tendon may be at the risk of damage during total knee arthroplasty.

The present study focused on the prevalence of incidental excision of the femoral footprint of the popliteus tendon during total knee arthroplasty and its associated risk factors. A total of 275 knee arthroplasties were performed for 226 patients with varus knee osteoarthritis. The status of the femoral footprint of the popliteus tendon was intraoperatively evaluated and classified into three groups (preserved, partially excised, and completely excised), and the prevalence of the excision was identified. Femoral component size, the thickness of the resected distal femoral condyle, and preoperative patient demographic data were compared for the three groups. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to reveal risk factors associated with the excision. The femoral footprint of the popliteus tendon was preserved in 132 knees (48.0%), partially excised in 94 knees (34.2%) and completely excised in 49 knees (17.8%). The ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed thicker resection of the distal femoral condyle (p<0.0001) and shorter body height (p=0.0266) to be the independent risk factors for the excision. The incidental partial or complete excision of the femoral footprint of the popliteus tendon was identified in approximately half of the evaluated knees. Thicker resection of the distal femoral condyle and shorter body height were the most significant risk factors for the excision. Case-control study, Level III.

Compliance with Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (Kidmed) and Eating Patterns in School-age Children with Gaziantep, Turkey

Purpose/Aim: The Mediterranean diet is reported as a healthy eating pattern with protective effects on cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity and oxidative stress related disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between Mediterranean Diet Ouality Index (KIDMED), body composition and eating patterns in school-age children of Gaziantep, Turkey. Methods: The body weight (kg) and height (cm) are evaluated in accordance with the standards, body mass index (BMI) values >2 SD per age has been classified as obesity, body height under <- 2 SD per age has been evaluated as short body height (stunding), this evaluations are in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO, 2006) standards. The body composition of children is evaluated by Tanita BC 418, the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by the KIDMED Index. The eating patterns of children have been obtained by 23-item questionnaire method. Results: A 26.5 % of the children obesity and 50.4 % shortness have been determined, whereas 7.7 % and 40.6 % have a good and a poor KIDMED index, respectively. A negative and statistically significant relation (p<0.05) has been indicated between the current body fat and the KIDMED index score. It has been determined that 38.4 % of the children omit meals, usually (54.7 %) breakfast is omitted. Also, 37.9 % of children prefer take tea during breakfast. Conclusion: Moreover encourage of childrens' adherence to Mediterranean diet in Gaziantep, there is a need for national plans and politicals to minimise childrens' shortness as a best measurement of nutritional status.

Yoğun Bakım Ünitesine Yatan Hastalarda Akut Böbrek Yetmezliği Gelişimi Üzerine Etkili Faktörler ve Bu Faktörlerin Mortalite Üzerine Etkileri

Objective: Early detecting acute renal failure is important by the aspect of determination of the disease's severity and grade of the organ dysfunction. The Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative workgroup designed a classification system for acute kidney injury (AKI) named as the RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage kidney disease). The aim of our study is to assess acute renal failure development in intensive care units patients, factors affecting it and the effect of the factors over mortality via using RIFLE score. Material and Methods: The age, height, weight, gender, diagnosis, comorbid diseases, admission reason to the intensive care, intensive care stay, the APACHE II score, SOFA score, RIFLE score, biochemical parameters (albumin, prealbumin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, HCO3 level), triceps thickness and waist circumference measurement were all recorded. Patients were grouped into AKI and non-AKI. The AKI group was assessed by RIFLE score due to hourly urine output and creatinine rise separated into three groups as R=Risk, I=Injury, F=Failure. Results: 502 patients were enrolled to the study. 39,2% of the patients was in the acute kidney injury group while 60.8% was in non- acute kidney injury group. The renal failure development is related with high age, short body height, excessive weight, existence of chronic disease and long intensive care units hospitalization period. Conclusion: In conclusion, patients with high age, excessive weight, chronic diseases, high urea, creatinine, HCO3- levels, low cholesterol, albumine and prealbumine levels are prone to renal failure.

Ethnic Variation in Central Corneal Refractive Power and Steep Cornea in Asians

Purpose: To describe ethnic differences in the distribution of central corneal refractive power and steep cornea in a multiethnic Asian population.Methods: A total of 2968 Chinese, 2957 Indian and 2928 Malay participants aged over 40 years were included in this study. Each subject underwent standardized systematic and ocular examinations, interviewer-administered questionnaires, and blood investigations for risk factor assessment. Central corneal refractive power was measured using an autorefractor. Steep cornea was defined as central corneal refractive power exceeding 48 diopters (D) measured by keratometry.Results: Mean keratometry readings were 43.9 ± 1.5 D in Malays, 44.2 ± 1.5 D in Indians and 43.9 ± 1.5 D in Chinese. The prevalence of steep cornea was 0.6% (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.3–0.9%) in Malays, 1.0% (95% CI 0.7–1.4%) in Indians and 0.5% (95% CI 0.3–0.8%) in Chinese. In multivariate analysis, increasing central corneal refractive power was associated with Indian race, shorter body height, non-smokers, absence of pterygium, shorter axial length, thinner corneas and greater anterior chamber depth, while the presence of steep cornea was significantly associated with Indian race, shorter axial length and thinner corneas.Conclusions: Indian participants had the steepest corneas among the three major ethnic groups in Singapore. Central corneal refractive power was related to several ocular parameters including anterior chamber depth, axial length and central corneal thickness. These data have important clinical implications for understanding the risk of keratoconus.

Boys with haemophilia have low trabecular bone mineral density and sarcopenia, but normal bone strength at the radius

Although a decreased areal bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in patients with haemophilia, data are lacking that would reflect the three-dimensional structure of the bone and the muscle-bone relationship. We aimed to assess volumetric BMD, bone geometry and muscle-bone phenotype in boys with haemophilia, and to describe the association between clinical characteristics of haemophilia and bone quality and structure. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 41 boys with haemophilia (mean age 12.4, range 6.6-19.8 years) using peripheral quantitative CT (pQCT) at the nondominant forearm. Results were transformed into Z-scores using previously published reference data. Significant differences were tested by one-sample t-test or sign test. Two-sample t-test and anova were used to compare results between subgroups of patients divided according to the severity of the disease, the fracture history and the number of joint and muscle bleedings. Boys with haemophilia had a decreased trabecular volumetric BMD (mean Z-score -0.5, P < 0.01), while their cortical volumetric BMD was increased (mean Z-score 0.4, P < 0.05). The volumetric bone mineral content and the bone geometry at the radial diaphysis were normal when adjusted for patients' shorter body height. Muscle area was decreased (mean Z-score -1.0, P < 0.001), irrespective of age. No association was observed of bone quality parameters and bone geometry with the disease severity, fracture history or number of bleedings. Bone strength measured at the diaphysis of the radius is not impaired in boys with haemophilia. The finding of the decreased trabecular bone density can be most likely attributed to their sarcopenia.

Energy Consumption Diminished in Paraplegia

In children and adolescents with congenital paraplegia due to spina bifida, obesity is a common problem, albeit one that is difficult to treat, as the authors point out accurately in their article. I wish to highlight some particular aspects in such patients: The body mass index (BMI) is the commonly used variable on which to base a diagnosis. However, one of the problems in spina bifida patients is their short body height owing to scoliosis/kyphosis, bending contractures, and hypotrophic legs, resulting in a BMI calculation that is falsely high. In such patients, arm span should be used as the variable instead of body height (1). The level of lesion, and thus the ability to move, influences the prevalence of obesity: in the Seattle cohort, 26% of patients with a paralysis level of L1 were obese, and at the L2/3 level, 17% [David Shurtleff, personal communication]. Dysphagia as a result of Arnold-Chiari-II malformation can prompt overfeeding because each intake of food in early infancy had posed problems and, although symptoms may lessen subsequently, feeding is therefore continued at the same level of intensity. Overweight is not only an esthetic problem but also a serious medical problem: personal hygiene and catheterization are substantially impeded as a result. Obesity severely affects the ability to walk especially in patients with high lumbar lesions (2). It is often not known that energy consumption at rest in spina bifida patients is only 60–70% that of comparable healthy children, owing to the paralysis and the reduced muscle mass. Obese children with spina bifida thus can have a lower calorie intake than the recommended daily allowances (3), whereas spasticity increases the consumption of energy. In the literature, data on the success of nutritional therapy and anaerobic training in patients with spina bifida are lacking.

Body height and ocular diseases. The Beijing Eye Study

To determine whether body height is associated with ocular diseases. The population-based Beijing Eye Study 2006 included 3,251 (73.2%) subjects out of 4,439 subjects invited to be examined. Ocular and general parameters were examined for associations with body height. Out of the 3,251 subjects included in the study, measurements of body height were available for 3,214 subjects (98.9%). In univariate analysis, short body height was significantly associated with a higher frequency of angle-closure glaucoma (P = 0.04), trachoma (P < 0.001), and pterygium (P = 0.02), a higher degree of cortical cataract (P < 0.001), and a higher frequency of arterial hypertension (P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis, including all confounding parameters which were significantly associated with body height in univariate analysis (i.e., age, gender, rural versus urban region, level of education) revealed that body height by itself was no longer significantly associated with the presence of any of the diseases tested. Angle-closure glaucoma, trachoma, pterygium, cortical cataract and arterial hypertension are present more often in adult Chinese with a short body stature. These associations are due to confounding factors such as age, level of education, and anterior chamber depth, which by themselves are associated with the ocular diseases mentioned.