Is height loss in adulthood associated with health in later life among the 1946 UK Birth Cohort (NSHD) participants?

Abstract

Background

Height increases as a product of physical growth until adulthood, then is stable between the ages of 20 and about 40, after which most people lose height as they biologically age. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between height in childhood and relative height loss in adulthood, and to examine the association between height loss and health at older age.

Methods

Data from one of the oldest ongoing cohort studies, the National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD, 1946 UK Birth Cohort) were analysed. In total, 2,119 study participants were included who completed the nurse home visit during the 24^th and most recent available follow-up examination at age 69. Linear regression models were used to estimate the association between measured height in childhood years relative height loss between ages 36 and 69. Logistic regression models using generalized additive models were calculated to estimate the probability of worse health at age 69 (chronic disease score, general health status, osteoarthritis, and pain while walking) in association with height loss.

Results

Between the ages of 36 and 69, men lost an average of 2.0 cm and women 2.4 cm. Women lost significantly more height than men (p < 0.001). The taller the participants were at a young age, the more height they lost in adulthood. There was a significant association between height loss in adulthood and general health, chronic disease score (in men), osteoarthritis (in men), and walking pain at age 69. These findings largely persisted after adjusting the models for overweight, sociodemographic information, and lifestyle factors earlier in life.

Conclusions

Height loss seems to be associated with deteriorating health as people age. Height measurement and assessment of height loss could potentially be part of regular examinations after the age of 40 to monitor general health status, especially in the case of severe height loss.