Elevated resting heart rate is associated with the metabolic syndrome

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Health
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Elevated resting heart rate (RHR) is a potential indicator of cardiovascular morbidity.
• The relationship between RHR and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) requires further investigation, particularly in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between increased RHR and the prevalence of MetS.
• To analyze this association in a large cohort of apparently healthy individuals and those with cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 7706 individuals (5106 men, 2600 women) from a general health screening program.
• Participants categorized into quintiles based on RHR; prevalence of MetS assessed.
• Multiple adjusted odds ratios calculated to determine the association between RHR quintiles and MetS presence.

Main Results:

• A dose-response relationship observed between RHR and MetS prevalence.
• The odds of having MetS significantly increased with higher RHR quintiles.
• Highest RHR quintile (>or=80 BPM men, >or=82 BPM women) showed odds ratios of 4.1 (men) and 4.2 (women) compared to the lowest quintile.

Conclusions:

• Raised RHR is significantly associated with the presence of MetS in individuals with or without atherothrombotic risk.
• The strong association suggests potential shared pathophysiological mechanisms underlying both elevated RHR and MetS.
• These findings highlight RHR as a potential biomarker for metabolic syndrome.