Height is not associated with long-term survival after acute myocardial infarction

Background Studies show an inverse association between height and risk of m yocardial infarction. How height affects survival after acute myocardial in farction is uncertain. Methods In the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study, trained i nterviewers performed chart reviews and face-to-face interviews with 1935 p atients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction in 45 US medical cent ers between 1989 and 1993. We excluded 15 patients with missing information on height. After a search of the National Death Index for patients who die d before 1996, we analyzed the relationship of height and survival with Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Of the 1920 eligible patients, 317 (17%) died during a median follo w-up of 3.8 years. Height was positively associated with younger age, great er educational attainment, and a lower likelihood of being sedentary among both men and women. Height was not associated with long-term survival among women in unadjusted or adjusted analyses. Among men, height was associated with survival only in unadjusted analyses; adjustment for age eliminated t his association. We found no relationship between height and survival in an y individual age group among men or women. Conclusions Although stature may be associated with the risk of acute myoca rdial infarction, it is not associated with long-term survival after such a n event.