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Arrhythmias and sudden death
Original research article
Cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate recovery predict sudden cardiac death independent of ejection fraction
  1. Jussi A Hernesniemi1,2,3,
  2. Kalle Sipilä4,
  3. Antti Tikkakoski4,
  4. Juho T Tynkkynen1,2,5,
  5. Pashupati P Mishra3,6,
  6. Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen1,2,3,6,
  7. Kjell Nikus1,2,3,
  8. Tuomo Nieminen7,
  9. Terho Lehtimaki1,3,6,
  10. Mika Kähönen1,2,3,4
  1. 1Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
  2. 2Department of Cardiology, Tays Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hopsital, Tampere, Finland
  3. 3Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
  4. 4Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
  5. 5Department of Radiology, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, Hämeenlinna, Finland
  6. 6Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
  7. 7Department of Internal Medicine, Päijät-Häme Central-Hospital, Lahti, Finland
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jussi A Hernesniemi, Cardiology, University of Tampere, Tampere 33520, Finland; jussi.hernesniemi{at}uta.fi

Abstract

Objective To evaluate whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and heart rate recovery (HRR) associate with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) independently of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods The Finnish Cardiovascular Study is a prospective clinical study of patients referred to clinical exercise testing in 2001–2008 and follow-up until December 2013. Patients without pacemakers undergoing first maximal or submaximal exercise testing with cycle ergometer were included (n=3776). CRF in metabolic equivalents (METs) was estimated by achieving maximal work level. HRR was defined as the reduction in heart rate 1 min after maximal exertion. Adjudication of SCD was based on death certificates. LVEF was measured for clinical indications in 71.4% of the patients (n=2697).

Results Population mean age was 55.7 years (SD 13.1; 61% men). 98 SCDs were recorded during a median follow-up of 9.1 years (6.9–10.7). Mean CRF and HRR were 7.7 (SD 2.9) METs and 25 (SD 12) beats/min/min. Both CRF and HRR were associated with the risk of SCD in the entire study population (HRCRF0.47 (0.37–0.59), p<0.001 and HRHRR0.57 (0.48–0.67), p<0.001 with HR estimates corresponding to one SD increase in the exposure variables) and with CRF, HRR and LVEF in the same model (HRCRF0.60 (0.45–0.79), p<0.001, HRHRR0.65 (0.51–0.82), p<0.001) or adjusting additionally for all significant risk factors for SCD (LVEF, sex, creatinine level, history of myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation, corrected QT interval) (HRCRF0.69 (0.52–0.93), p<0.01, HRHRR0.74 (0.58–0.95) p=0.02).

Conclusions CRF and HRR are significantly associated with the risk of SCD regardless of LVEF.

  • echocardiography
  • cardiac arrest
  • ECG
  • cardiac imaging and diagnostics

https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2019-315198

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors have contributed to the manuscript significantly and take full responsibility of the work.

    • Funding The Finnish Cardiovascular Study (FINCAVAS) has been financially supported by the Competitive Research Funding of the Tampere University Hospital (Grant 9M048 and 9N035), the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Finland, the Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation, and EU Horizon 2020 (grant 755 320 for TAXINOMISIS).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data availability statement Data are available upon reasonable request.