The association of resting heart rate with cardiovascular, cancer and all-cause mortality - Eight year follow-up of 3527 male Israeli employees (the CORDIS Study)

Background Resting heart rate has frequently been shown to be a predictor o f coronary heart disease mortality. Elevated rate could also be a marker fo r the presence of other risk factors. which have not been taken into consid eration in previous studies. Objective To evaluate the effect of resting heart rate on the risk of all-c ause cardiovascular and cancer mortality, taking into consideration haemato logical variables. Method The association between resting heart rate and mortality was assesse d applying Cox's proportional hazard models to data obtained in an 8 year f ollow-up of 3527 Israeli male industrial employees. During this period 135 deaths were recorded, 57 from cardiovascular disease and 45 from cancer. Re sting heart rate was assessed at entry; potential confounding demographic, anthropometric and socioeconomic variables. haematological data. serum lipi d levels and health-related habits were accounted for. Results We found that the relative risk of all-cause mortality increased wi th increasing resting heart-rate, workers with resting heart rate >90 beats .min(-1) had an adjusted relative risk of 2.23 (95% CI 1.4-3.6) compared wi th those with a heart rate <70 beats.min(-1). A similar result was achieved for cardiovascular disease mortality (adjusted relative risk 2.02, 95% CI 1.1-4.0). Cancer mortality was not associated with resting heart rate. Conclusion This study found that resting heart rate is associated with all- cause and cardiovascular disease mortality after controlling (in various st atistical models) for platelet counts. haemoglobin concentration, white blo od cell counts, total protein, and other recognized risk factors. (C) 2000 The European Society of Cardiology.