Short stature is associated with incident sudden cardiac death in a large Asian cohort

Abstract

Background: Few data on the association between height and the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Asian populations are available. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of SCD as related to height both in a representative Korean population and in specific subgroups. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 410,119 Koreans age ≥20 years from the Korean National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort, who underwent a national health examination. SCD cases were adjudicated based on information within the claims database. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between height and SCD. Potential mediators included demographic factors, health-related habits, and specific cardiovascular comorbidities. Results: During an 8.45-year follow-up period, a total of 1341 SCDs occurred. Various factors, including short stature, were identified as risk factors for SCD. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that a 10-cm increase in height was associated with a 14% decreased risk for SCD. This relationship remained significant among the elderly, postmenopausal women, and individuals without cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: Our results indicate that short stature is a significant risk factor for SCD in a Korean population, thus supporting previously published findings correlating height to SCD risk in non-Asian populations. © 2020 Heart Rhythm Society