Adult Height Strongly Associated With The Risk Of Chronic Lung Disease

Main Category: COPD
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma;  Genetics
Article Date: 06 Dec 2009 - 0:00 PDT


People who develop chronic lung disease are more likely to be shorter in height than the general population according to new research presented on Thursday at The British Thoracic Society Annual Winter Meeting.

Data on over one million people (1,204,110) over the age of 35 was examined. The findings highlighted that people diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - were on average 1.12cm shorter than the general population. This difference was most noticeable in people aged 35-50 years. COPD is an umbrella term for a number of lung conditions including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Researchers believe that height may be a 'marker' for social deprivation. They suggest that people who came from poorer backgrounds, or lived in deprived communities, were more likely to:

• have had mothers who smoked during pregnancy - increasing their chances of having a low birth-weight, which can limit growth and lead to an increased risk of various diseases
• had poor nutrition during their early years affecting general growth and lung development
• to live in smoking households and smoke themselves - a major risk factor for developing lung disease

The study conducted by The University of Nottingham looked at the link between adult height and COPD to determine if there is any relationship between the two.

The smallest height difference was in the over 90s age group where the average difference between sufferers and non sufferers of COPD was only 0.51cm. This could suggest that many of the older generation who suffered from the disease actually died from it in previous years.

COPD is characterised by permanent scarring to the lung tissue caused mostly by smoking. It is estimated that 3.7 million people in the UK have the disease, yet only 900,000 people are currently diagnosed. This means that almost 2 million people have the condition but don't know it.

Co-author of the research Richard Hubbard, British Lung Foundation Professor of Respiratory Epidemiology and member of the British Thoracic Society, says:

"We believe that height could be a marker for social and economic deprivation.

And there's a double whammy associated with deprivation. Poorer nutrition in the 'womb' and when 'growing up' as a child can affect general growth and lung development. This is combined with an increased likelihood to live with families and peers who smoke - influencing the chance of taking up and sticking with the habit.

We know that smoking is the principal cause of COPD and all of these factors combined could increase the risk even more."

Professor Mike Morgan, Chairman of The British Thoracic Society and Respiratory Consultant comments:

"We need to make it easier for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to make positive life choices and improvements to their health - whether it be eating well or stopping smoking.

GPs and primary care professionals could also look out for height alongside smoking status and other chronic lung disease symptoms, to ensure that the disease is caught early."

Source
British Thoracic Society

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