Infant mortality and adult stature in Spain

► The infant mortality rate (IMR) in the year of birth is a strong predictor of the mean adult height of the survivors. ► In Spain, the reduction in the IMR between 1961 and 1980 explains an increase in average adult height of about 2.7 cm. ► The burden of disease in childhood can have long-lasting effects in health, which are reflected in adult stature.