The Effect of Pulse Rate on the Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in the Adults

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study was to investigate the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases related to the heart rate and the effect of the heart rate on cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and diabetes in Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 1,603 subjects were selected among males and females from 2,542 adults ages 40-69 years who visited a health promotion center from April, 2004 to April, 2005, excluding 939 adults who were taking medications or had diseases which affected the heart rate and those elderly above the age of 70 years. Past history, present illness, medication history and health status were evaluated using a questionnaire and history taking. Basic physical examinations and laboratory tests were performed the next morning after at least 12 hours fasting. RESULTS: The mean heart rate of male and female adults were 62.5+/-9.03 beats per minute and 64.2+/-8.36 beats per minute, respectively. The mean heart rate was significantly higher in the obesity group assessed by percentage body fat and in the central obesity group assessed by abdominal circumference among males. The mean heart rate was lower in subjects who were regular alcohol drinkers and who exercised regularly among females. In subjects with increasing stage of blood pressure and blood glucose level, the mean heart rate was increased significantly in both males and females. After adjusting for factors affecting hypertension or diabetes, there were increased risks of hypertension with an odds ratio of 1.03 and of diabetes with 1.06, by an increase of 1 beat per minute of heart rate. CONCLUSION: This study showed that indices related to cardiovascular risk factors were increased significantly with increasing heart rate and that the risk of hypertension and diabetes representing cardiovascular diseases was increased even after adjusting for variable index affecting cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is needed that clinicians evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors and underlying diseases, considering high heart rate as an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.