An evaluation of the relationship between adult height and health-related quality of life in the general UK population

Summary Objective Short stature has previously been shown to influence several social factors during childhood and adult life. However, limited data exist to determine the influence of short stature on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) because of underpowered studies and the fact that children find questionnaires very difficult to complete. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of height on HRQoL for the general adult population in the UK. Design The 2003 Health Survey for England (HSE03), commissioned by the Department of Health, provides a random general population sample for the population living in private households in England. Observations for 14 416 adults (aged > 18 years) were included in the analysis. Measurements The survey involved a questionnaire‐based interview and a nurse visit, where measurements and blood samples were taken. HRQoL was measured using the EQ‐5D questionnaire. Social class (I–V) was derived according to definitions from UK National Statistics. Height was converted from centimetres to height standard deviation scores (HSDS). Results Mean EQ‐5D scores were lower in subjects with greater height deficit than in taller subjects. Three significantly different subgroups were identified using an analysis of variance (anova). The first subgroup ‘HSDS ≤ –2·0’ had significantly lower EQ‐5D scores compared with the second group ‘–2·0 > HSDS ≤ 0’ and the third group ‘HSDS > 0’. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed significant correlations between height and HRQoL, such that an increase in height of 1 HSDS predicts an improvement in EQ‐5D score of 6·1% for subjects shorter than –2·0 HSDS. Social class was a significant predictor of HRQoL in taller, but not in shorter, subjects. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that height in adult life is correlated with HRQoL and that short stature in adult life may be associated with a significant reduction in HRQoL.