Body height, mobility, and risk of first and recurrent venous thrombosis

Abstract

To cite this article: Flinterman LE, van Hylckama Vlieg A, Rosendaal FR, Cannegieter SC. Body height, mobility, and risk of first and recurrent venous thrombosis. J Thromb Haemost 2015; 13: 548-54.Summary. Background: Tall people have an increased risk of a first venous thrombosis. Sedentary lifestyle has been shown to act synergistically with body height, especially during long-haul flights. Objective: To estimate the relation between height and risk of a first and recurrent venous thrombosis and a possible additional association with a mobile or an immobile lifestyle. Methods: Patients with a first venous thrombosis and control subjects were included between 1999 and 2004 (MEGA case-control study). Patients were followed for recurrence for an average time of 5.1 years (MEGA follow-up study). Odds ratios and hazard ratios (HRs) per increase of 5 cm were calculated compared with a height of 165-170 cm, separately and in combination with (im)mobility. Results: In 4464 patients who reported their height, we found an increasing risk of a first and recurrent event with height. For men, a 2.9-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-4.4) increased risk for first venous thrombosis was found for those between 195 and 200 cm and a 3.8-fold (95% CI 1.5-9.8) higher risk for those > 200 cm compared with the reference category. For recurrence risk, the HRs were 1.7 (95% CI 0.8-3.3) and 3.7 (95% CI 1.4-10.0), respectively. For women, a 1.5-fold (95% CI 0.7-3.4) and 3-fold (95% CI 0.9-9.4) increased risk was found for those > 185 cm for first and recurrent venous thrombosis, respectively. For the tallest men and women, a slight additionally increased risk was observed for sedentary lifestyle. Conclusions: Tall men and women have an increased risk of first and recurrent venous thrombosis, possibly higher in combination with a sedentary lifestyle.

Antibiotic use as a marker of acute infection and risk of first and recurrent venous thrombosis

“…Of these patients, 225 did not consent to participate in a follow‐up study on recurrent venous thrombosis (MEGA follow‐up study). Therefore, 4731 patients were followed from their first venous thrombotic event until 2008–2010 when they completed a questionnaire on recurrent venous thrombosis (Flinterman et al , ). This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Leiden University Medical Centre, and all patients gave written informed consent.…”

Thrombosis RelatedABO,F5,MTHFR,andFGGGene Polymorphisms in Morbidly Obese Patients

“…Development of thrombotic events in obese individuals is also associated with longer hospital admissions and mortality rates [6, 7]. More recently, a number of important research papers have linked the length of legs [8] and height [9] with recurrent venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism [10]. To date, there are multiple prophylactic antithrombotic regiments; however, risk stratification strategies for prevention of DVT based on anthropometric data need to be improved [11].…”

Predictors of active cancer thromboembolic outcomes: role of body composition

“…In addition, there is a growing body of evidence that in the non-cancer, height is a robust predictor of thrombosis. [5] We aimed to evaluate whether body composition measurements including height, BSA and lean body mass are related to increased risk of thromboembolism in cancer patients.…”

“…[9]Similarly, the MEGA (multiple environmental and genetic assessment of risk factors for venous thrombosis-study) study evaluated 4644 patients and found that tall men and women have an increased risk of first and recurrent venous thrombosis, possibly higher in combination with a sedentary lifestyle. [5] The Physicians Health Study data, in a cohort not specific to patients with cancer, body height was a strong risk factor for development of VTE in males, but not in females. [10]Similarly, Flinterman et al evaluated 4464 patients from 1999 to 2004 for an average of 5.1 years for development of first and recurrent DVTs[5] The study found that men had a 2.9 fold (95% CI 1.9–4.4) increased risk for first thrombosis if their height was between 195 and 200 cm and a 3.8 fold (95% CI 1.5–9.8) higher risk for those >200 cm.…”

“…[5] The Physicians Health Study data, in a cohort not specific to patients with cancer, body height was a strong risk factor for development of VTE in males, but not in females. [10]Similarly, Flinterman et al evaluated 4464 patients from 1999 to 2004 for an average of 5.1 years for development of first and recurrent DVTs[5] The study found that men had a 2.9 fold (95% CI 1.9–4.4) increased risk for first thrombosis if their height was between 195 and 200 cm and a 3.8 fold (95% CI 1.5–9.8) higher risk for those >200 cm. For women, there was a 1.5 fold (95% CI 0.7–3.4) and 3 fold (95% CI 0.9–9.4) increased risk was for those taller than 185 cm for first and recurrent VTE respectively.…”