Early results of a survey in the UK and US by the University of Manchester said people taller than 6ft (182 cm) were twice as likely to contract coronavirus.
In the survey, released on the university’s website on Tuesday, two thousand people from the UK and US were assessed and the data was analysed by scientists in the UK, Norway, and the US.
As per the findings, researchers believe aerosol transmission is “very likely” with taller people, placing them “at higher risk.”
“The data in both countries, argue the researchers, could suggest that aerosol transmission is very likely, with taller individuals at higher risk – something that would not be expected if transmission was exclusively through droplets,” the study said.
“And that, they say, something that would not have been observed if downward droplet transmission was the only transmission mechanism.”
Aerosols can accumulate in poorly ventilated areas and are carried by air currents. Droplets, however, are bigger than aerosols and are thought to travel relatively short distances and drop quickly from the air.
“The results of this survey in terms of associations between height and diagnosis suggest downward droplet transmission is not the only transmission mechanism and aerosol transmission is possible,” University of Manchester Professor Evan Kontopantelis said in the study.
“This has been suggested by other studies but our method of confirmation is novel.”
The survey also explores the impacts of personal characteristics, circumstances and working conditions.
Using a shared kitchen or accommodation - a proxy for deprivation - was is also a significant factor, in both countries, but especially in the US where the odds are 3.5 times as high. In the UK they were 1.7 times higher, the survey found.
“Though social distancing is still important because transmission by droplets is still likely to occur, it does suggest that mask wearing may be just as if not more effective in prevention,” Professor Kontopantelis said.
“But also, air purification in interior spaces should be further explored.”
People with natural science degrees in the UK were slightly less likely to get the disease, compared with those in the US, even when controlling for car ownership and other socio-economic information, the study added.
“Though the paper is yet to be peer reviewed, the authors feel its implications on the debate over aerosol transmission should be made available to the wider community,” University of Manchester said on the website.
