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Heart rate as a predictor of mortality: the MATISS project
F Seccareccia1, F Pannozzo, F Dima
1Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, I-00161 Rome, Italy. fulvias@iss.it
American Journal of Public Health
|August 14, 2001
Summary
Resting heart rate is a significant independent predictor of mortality in middle-aged men. Higher heart rates are associated with increased risks for all-cause, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular deaths.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Resting heart rate (RHR) is a readily available physiological marker.
- Its independent prognostic value in low-risk populations requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if RHR independently predicts mortality in a low-risk male cohort.
- To assess the association between RHR and all-cause, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular mortality.
Main Methods:
- An Italian population-based observational study included 2533 men aged 40-69 years.
- Heart rate and cardiovascular risk factors were measured; vital status was tracked until December 1997.
Main Results:
- A total of 393 deaths occurred during 24,457 person-years of follow-up.
- Increasing RHR levels correlated with higher age-adjusted death rates.
- Adjusted hazard ratios for mortality increased with each heart rate increment, with relative risks exceeding twofold between extreme levels.
Conclusions:
- Resting heart rate is an independent predictor of mortality in this cohort.
- Findings highlight the importance of RHR in assessing cardiovascular and overall mortality risk.