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The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and adult height

  • Infectious diseases epidemiology
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Abstract

Objectives: A cross-sectional survey was performed to evaluate the association between H. pylori and adult height. Methods: H. pylori infection was assessed using a 13C-urea breath test and height measured by a research nurse using a stadiometer in participants between the ages of 40–49 years. Results: Height was measured in 2932/3682 participants that attended and were evaluable. H. pylori infected women were 1.4 cm shorter than uninfected women (95% confidence interval, CI=0.7–2.1 cm) and this statistically significant difference persisted after adjusting for age, ethnicity, childhood and present socio-economic status (H. pylori positives 0.79 cm shorter; 95%CI: 0.05–1.52 cm). H. pylori positive men were 0.7 cm shorter than uninfected men but this did not reach statistical significance (95% CI: −0.1–1.5 cm). Conclusion: Although H. pylori infection is associated with reduced adult height in women, this maybe due to residual confounding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astra Zeneca-Richard Hunt Chair of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W., HSC 3N51D, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 3Z5

    Paul Moayyedi

  2. Centre for Cancer Research, University of Leeds, Arthington House, Cookridge Hospital, Leeds

    David Forman

  3. Institute of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, University of Leeds, 30 Hyde Terrace, Leeds

    Sara Duffett

  4. Northern and Yorkshire Clinical Trials and Research Unit, University of Leeds, Springfield Mount, Leeds

    Su Mason, Julia Brown & Will Crocombe

  5. Paediatric Epidemiology Group, University of Leeds, 30 Hyde Terrace, UK

    Richard Feltbower

  6. Centre for Digestive Diseases, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Great George Street, Leeds, UK

    Anthony Axon

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  1. Paul Moayyedi
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  2. David Forman
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  3. Sara Duffett
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  4. Su Mason
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  5. Julia Brown
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  6. Will Crocombe
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  7. Richard Feltbower
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  8. Anthony Axon
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on behalf of the Leeds HELP study group

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Correspondence to Paul Moayyedi.

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Moayyedi, P., Forman, D., Duffett, S. et al. The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and adult height. Eur J Epidemiol 20, 455–465 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-6634-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-6634-0

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