RESUMO
To assess the level of resting heart rate [RHR] in an outpatient population presenting with stable coronary artery disease [CAD] as well as to measure its association with current therapeutic management strategies for cardiovascular events. A multi-center cross-sectional survey was carried out in Saudi Arabia and Egypt over a three month period [between January 2007 and April 2007]. 2049 patients with CAD without clinical heart failure [HF] were included in this study through "cluster sampling". RHR was measured by manual palpitation. Mean age of CAD patients was 56.7 +/- 10.4 and the mean RHR was 78.9 +/- 13.9 b/m. 1686 patients [83.1%] were on beta -blockers for whom the RHR was 78.5 +/- 14.0 b/m [95.5% had RHR >/= 60 b/m, which is higher than recommended by the guidelines]. 1094 [73.5%] of patients on beta -blockers were on a lower dose, probably to avoid the complications associated with such a class. Among those not on beta-blockers [16.9%], RHR was 80.9 +/- 13.0 b/m. Moreover, 98 patients [4.8%] were on calcium channel blocker [diltiazem or verapamil] but not on beta-blockers, for whom the RHR was 80.9 +/- 12.0 b/m. Finally, 163 patients [8.0%] were on both beta-blockers and the calcium channel blocker, and their RHR was 79.0 +/- 14.4 b/m. Optimal target RHR has not been achieved in a significant number of screened patients. Achievements of such targets are known to decrease mortality and to improve survival