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Height, body mass index, and survival in men with coronary disease: follow up of the diet and reinfarction trial (DART)
  1. A R Ness1,
  2. D Gunnell1,
  3. J Hughes2,
  4. P C Elwood2,
  5. G Davey Smith1,
  6. M L Burr3
  1. 1Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
  2. 2MRC Epidemiology Unit (South Wales), Penarth, UK
  3. 3Centre of Applied Public Health Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Temple of Peace and Health, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr A R Ness, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2PR, UK; 
 Andy.Ness{at}bris.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.56.3.218

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    Taller people have a lower risk of coronary death and death from all causes,1 but there are few data on the association between height and survival in those with coronary disease. Similarly being either underweight or obese is associated with increased coronary and all cause mortality 2 but the association of body mass index (BMI) and survival in people with symptomatic coronary heart disease has not been so widely reported.3,4 We examined these associations in the Diet and Reinfarction Trial.5

    METHODS AND RESULTS

    Between 1983 and 1987 2033 men who had recently suffered a myocardial infarction were enrolled from 4371 potentially eligible men identified. The men were enrolled shortly after discharge from hospital with a mean interval from myocardial infarction to enrolment of 41 days. The main reason for exclusion was that the men intended to eat one of the study diets (n=1044). In addition, 237 men died before they could be randomised.5

    Past history of disease, smoking habits, and drug treatment were noted. Height and weight were recorded and BMI (weight/(height)2 calculated as a measure of adiposity. Participants were randomly allocated to one of the study diets in a factorial design. They could be assigned to one of eight dietary regimens—fat advice, fish advice, fibre advice, fat and fish, fat and fibre, fish …

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