Abstract 2115: Relationship Between Stature and the Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Cardiovascular Mortality

Background: A recent study (

Apr ; : –1688 ) suggested that atrial fibrillation was more prevalent in patients of tall stature (AF) . However, the impact that this association has on survival is unknown.

Aims: To validate the previous findings regarding height and to investigate how height and atrial fibrillation effect survival.

Methods: Computerized 12 lead resting ECGs on 45,855 consecutive male veterans obtained by physician discretion at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 1987 to 2000 were analyzed. After excluding inpatients, patients with WPW, paced rhythms and inpatients, 29,587 patients remained. After a mean follow up of 7.5 ± 3.8years, there were 2,616 cardiovascular (CV) deaths (8.8%). Age and heart rate adjusted proportional hazard analyses were performed. Tall patients were considered those in the 75th percentile (71 inches and above).

Results: There were 2468 patients with atrial fibrillation. Mean height of people with AF was 69.4 ± 3.6 inches while those without AF was 68.6 ± 3.7 (p<0.001). Prevalence of AF in tall people was 3.2% whilst it was 2.6 % in shorter individuals (Chi-Square 11.4 p<0.001). Being of tall stature and having AF were associated both univariately and multivariately with cardiovascular mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves show significant differences between patients who were tall with AF and who were short with AF.

Conclusion: This study confirms the recent observation that tall individuals have a higher prevalence of AF. Tall stature protects from cardiovascular mortality even in patients with AF.