Body height and risk of venous thromboembolism in men versus women.

Abstract

Background: Body height is associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and may contribute to differences in VTE risk in men versus women.

Aims: To investigate the risk of VTE according to body height in men and women, and assess VTE risk in men versus women after adjustment for height in young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals.

Methods: Participants of the Tromsø Study (1994-2020) and the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (1995-2019) formed the study cohort (n=114,567). Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of VTE per 10 cm increase in body height in men and women. VTE risk in men versus women was estimated in the age groups 19-49, 50-74 and ≥75 years before and after adjustment for height.

Results: Taller stature was associated with increased VTE risk in both men (HR: 1.34, CI: 1.25-1.44) and women (HR: 1.23, CI: 1.13-1.33). In the middle-aged, the risk was higher in men than in women (HR: 1.45, CI: 1.32-1.60), but diminished after adjustment for height (HR 0.98, CI 0.85-1.13). In the young (HR: 0.87, CI 0.70-1.08) and elderly (HR: 1.08, CI: 0.97-1.20) there was no difference in VTE risk in men versus women before adjustment, while the risk was higher in women after height adjustment (HR: 0.60, CI: 0.44-0.83 and HR: 0.83, CI: 0.71-0.97, respectively).

Conclusions: Taller stature was a risk factor for VTE in men and women. The risk of VTE in men versus women was substantially affected by adjustment for body height in all age groups.