Heart rate recovery after submaximal exercise testing as a predictor of mortality in a cardiovascularly healthy cohort.
BACKGROUND
Abnormal heart rate recovery after symptom-limited exercise predicts death. It is unknown whether this is also true among patients undergoing submaximal testing.


OBJECTIVE
To test the prognostic implications of heart rate recovery in cardiovascularly healthy adults undergoing submaximal exercise testing.


METHODS
Population-based cohort study.


METHODS
10 primary care sites.


METHODS
5234 adults without evidence of cardiovascular disease who were enrolled in the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study.


METHODS
Heart rate recovery was defined as the change from peak heart rate to that measured 2 minutes later (heart rate recovery was defined as < or =42 beats/min).


RESULTS
During 12 years of follow-up, 312 participants died. Abnormal heart rate recovery predicted death (relative risk, 2.58 [CI, 2.06 to 3.20]). After adjustment for standard risk factors, fitness, and resting and exercise heart rates, abnormal heart rate recovery remained predictive (adjusted relative risk, 1.55 [CI, 1.22 to 1.98]) (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Even after submaximal exercise, abnormal heart rate recovery predicts death.
Cole
C R
CR
Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Foody
J M
JM
Blackstone
E H
EH
Lauer
M S
MS
D000328:Adult; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors