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Heart rate measurement and outcome

Yutaka Imai1, Atsushi Hozawa, Takayoshi Ohkubo

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science and Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi Aobaku, Japan, 980-8574. imai@tinet-i.ne.jp

Blood Pressure Monitoring
|February 27, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Home-measured heart rate and heart rate variability predict cardiovascular disease risk. Longer-term heart rate monitoring and assessing heart rate variability are crucial for evaluating hypertension and cardiovascular mortality risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Biostatistics

Background:

  • Previous research on heart rate and heart rate variability's predictive value for cardiovascular disease risk is inconclusive.
  • Variability in heart rate due to stress may impact measurement accuracy and study reproducibility.
  • The Ohasama study initiated in 1985 in Japan aims to clarify these associations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the predictive value of home-measured and ambulatory heart rate and heart rate variability for cardiovascular mortality.
  • To assess the impact of measurement accuracy and reproducibility on study outcomes.
  • To determine the role of heart rate and its variability in hypertension evaluation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Ohasama study, including home measurements and ambulatory monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure.
  • Analyzed heart rate averaged over 21 days from home measurements.
  • Calculated heart rate variability as the standard deviation of daytime ambulatory heart rate measured every 30 minutes.

Main Results:

  • A linear association was found between home-measured heart rate (averaged over 21 days) and cardiovascular mortality.
  • Heart rate variability demonstrated an inverse correlation with cardiovascular mortality.
  • These findings suggest distinct predictive roles for heart rate and heart rate variability.

Conclusions:

  • Heart rate and heart rate variability are significant, often overlooked, predictors of cardiovascular mortality.
  • Accurate and reproducible heart rate measurements are essential for reliable cardiovascular risk assessment.
  • Both heart rate and heart rate variability should be considered in the comprehensive evaluation of hypertension.

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