Height and risk of liver fibrosis progression: A multivariable Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

Abstract The relationship between liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and height has been an immensely controversial topic that is unclear. To accurately identify the causal relationship, Mendelian randomization research (MR) has been conducted. For the first time, we employed genome-wide significance (p < 5×10 − 8) levels of genetic variance for Standing height, and Sitting height (exposure) with liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis (outcome). A two-sample MR analysis of standing height, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis was performed. We discovered that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with standing and sitting height were both negatively causally related to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The ratio (OR) of 0.71 (p = 0.005**) was employed to determine the causal effect of elevated standing height level (per 1-SD) on the probability of liver fibrosis progression. A ratio (OR) of 0.70 (p = 0.012*) was calculated to represent the causative influence of elevated sitting height level (per 1-SD) on the probability of liver fibrosis progression. Our MR study hypothesized that the shorter the height, the higher the risk of liver fibrosis progression. These findings suggest early identification of short-stature populations and health education to prevent further development of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.