The link between elevated long-term resting heart rate and SBP variability for all-cause mortality

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health Research
• Mortality Risk Factors

Background:

• Resting heart rate (RHR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) are established risk markers for all-cause mortality.
• The combined impact of increased RHR and SBP variability on mortality risk remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between visit-to-visit variation in RHR and SBP and the risk of all-cause mortality in a general population.
• To determine if combined variability in RHR and SBP amplifies mortality risk.

Main Methods:

• Long-term visit-to-visit variation of RHR and SBP was examined in 46,751 residents of Tangshan city, China.
• Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for clinical characteristics.

Main Results:

• A 1-SD increase in RHR was associated with increased mortality risk in participants with higher SBP variability, specifically in men and those under 65.
• A 1-SD increase in SBP was linked to higher mortality risk among individuals with elevated RHR variability, particularly in the same subgroups.

Conclusions:

• Elevated long-term SBP variability combined with increased RHR variability, or vice versa, may amplify the risk of all-cause mortality.
• This amplified risk is observed in the general population, men, and the middle-aged group.