Taller Height Linked to Higher Risk of Atrial Fibrillation, Endometriosis in East Asians

A large-scale genomic analysis of East Asian populations has found that taller individuals face a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation and endometriosis, according to a new study.

A research team at China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan published the findings in the international journal PLOS Genetics, the medical community reported Monday.

Human height is determined by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. While genetic factors are already known to be associated with various health conditions, research focusing on East Asian populations has been insufficient. Critics have consistently pointed out that Western-centric genomic data has limitations in precisely predicting disease risk for East Asians.

To fill this gap, the research team conducted two rounds of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) based on genetic data from more than 120,000 Han Chinese individuals in Taiwan. The analysis identified 293 genetic variants associated with height and five variants linked to familial short stature, a genetically caused condition. The team then analyzed additional data from five East Asian biobanks to systematically evaluate the association between these variants and disease risk.

The results confirmed that height is closely connected not only to body frame and lung function but also to cardiovascular and reproductive conditions. Taller individuals showed a higher tendency to develop endometriosis — a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus — and atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by irregular and rapid heartbeat.

Conversely, shorter individuals showed a relatively lower risk of developing endometriosis. The research team explained that the study confirmed genetic factors determining height are intertwined with specific disease risks in complex ways.

"Our integrated analysis of genetic data from multiple East Asian biobanks showed that height-related genetic factors are associated not only with physical growth but also with clinically significant outcomes such as atrial fibrillation and endometriosis," the researchers said. "In the future, height-related polygenic scores could serve as genetic indicators for early prediction of disease risk in East Asian populations."

However, the team added that the study identified correlations, and further verification is needed for clinical application.