Pulse pressure and heart rate: Independent risk factors for cancer?

In the present study, the roles of heart rate (HR) and pulse pressure (PP) on cancer mortality, after taking into account physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and other confounding factors or underlying d isease, were examined in men. The study included 125,513 men aged 20 to 95 years who had a health check-up at the IPC Center between 1978 and 1988. HR and PP were classified into three groups: < 60, 60-80. > 80 bpm for HR and < 50. 51-64. greater than or equal to 65 mmHg for PP. Adjusted risk ratios related to the increment from one class of HR or PP to the next for all ca ncer mortality were 1.4 (1.2-1.5) and 1.3 (1.1-1.4), respectively. This rel ationship was independent of several known risk and confounding factors, es pecially cigarette smoking and physical activity. and could not be explaine d by the presence of underlying disease. (C) 2001, Elsevier Science Inc. Al l rights reserved.