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.