Height, Its Components, and Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Chinese: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Abstract

We provide indirect anthropometric evidence for the role of pre-pubertal and pubertal exposures on cardiovascular risk. Pubertal exposures are stronger than are prepubertal exposures but may be influenced by osteoporotic decline in old age. Further research should establish whether the observed relations are ethnically specific or relate to the stage or trajectory of socioeconomic development.

Is leg length a biomarker of childhood conditions in older Chinese women? The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

“…These speculations have corresponding implications for interpreting the impact of childhood conditions on cardiovascular risk. In recently developed populations, a lack of association between leg length and cardiovascular risk, as has been observed45 46 (different from the protective effect in long-term industrialised countries),47 – 51 does not necessarily imply that better childhood conditions are not protective. On the other hand, investigation of the impact of age of menarche on cardiovascular risk in these recently developed populations could provide key aetiological insights, in particular, if as in long-term industrialised countries early puberty is associated with increased cardiovascular risk 52 – 55…”

Are universal standards for optimal infant growth appropriate? Evidence from a Hong Kong Chinese birth cohort

“…One potential explanation is that the children’s families underwent different pathways over generations of economic transition, leaving varying epigenetic imprints of growth restraint. Moreover, we have shown that the effect of height on cardiovascular risk may be epidemiological stage specific and related to the population history,30 31 suggesting that height is not a marker of childhood environment alone.…”

Height, its components, and coagulability among olderChinese: TheGuangzhoubiobank cohort study

“…Nevertheless, commonalities with other observations exist. Longer legs, rather than greater sitting height, are usually associated with a lower risk of CVD and its traditional risk factors (Lawlor et al, 2004), whereas greater sitting height is sometimes associated with CVD risk factors (Schooling et al, 2007) and CVD (Lawlor et al, 2002). These previous findings are similar to our observation of greater sitting height, but not longer legs, associated with higher Hct and HGB.…”