High resting pulse ‘ups death risk’
Men who have a high pulse rate when resting are at a higher risk of death than those who do not – even if they are physically fit and healthy, researchers have found.
A resting heart rate of between 51 and 80 beats per minute (bpm) is associated with an increased risk of death compared to those with the lowest rate – irrespective of fitness levels, the new study found.
The research, published in the journal Heart, found that a resting rate above 81 bpm increased the risk of death further still.
A resting heart rate – the number of heart beats per minute – is determined by a person’s level of physical fitness, circulating hormones, and the autonomic nervous system.
Researchers from Denmark wanted to find out if heart rate had any bearing on an individual’s risk of death, irrespective of their fitness levels.
They tracked the health of 2,798 men – all of whom were participants of the Copenhagen Male Study which was set up in 1970 to monitor the cardiovascular health of middle aged men.
In 1971 more than 6,000 participants were interviewed by a doctor about their health and lifestyle, including smoking and exercise, and given a check-up. Their fitness was assessed using a cycling test.
In 1985 and 1986, just under 3,000 of the original participants were given a further check-up, to including examining their resting heart rate. They found that the men with high resting heart rates had lower levels of physical fitness, higher blood pressure and weight, and higher levels of circulating blood fats. Similarly, men who were physically active tended to have lower resting heart rates.
Sixteen years later in 2001, the researchers checked national Danish registers and found that 39% (1,082) of the men had since died. The results showed that the higher the resting heart rate, the higher the risk of death.
After adjusting for factors likely to influence the results, a resting heart rate of between 51 and 80 beats per minute was associated with a 40 to 50% increased risk of death, while one between 81 and 90 beats per minute doubled the risk, compared with those with the lowest rate. A resting heart rate above 90 beats per minute tripled the risk.
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