Background: A higher heart rate (HR) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hypertension is an important cardiovascular risk factor. The present study evaluated whether a higher HR was associated with the development of hypertension in normotensive, screened subjects.
Methods and results: Among normotensive participants of a 1-day health evaluation in 1997, we studied those who also participated in the program in 2000 (n=4,331; 2,823 men (65%), 1,508 women; mean age 47+/-9 years). Subjects were divided into 4 groups based on their HR in 1997: quartile 1 (HR <or=58, n=1,033), quartile 2 (59<or=HR <or=64, n=1,162), quartile 3 (65<or=HR <or=70, n=1,012), and quartile 4 (HR >or=71, n=1,124). The 3-year frequency of developing hypertension in 2000 was 4.5% for quartile 1, 6.8% for quartile 2, 6.0% for quartile 3, and 7.2% for quartile 4 (p=0.0424). Subjects with a higher HR were likely to have a greater number of metabolic syndrome components and a higher incidence of proteinuria. In a logistic regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, alcohol consumption, exercise, atherosclerotic risk factors, and lifestyle, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the development of hypertension were 1.53 (1.04-2.24) for quartile 2, 1.35 (0.90-2.02) for quartile 3, and 1.61 (1.10-2.37) for quartile 4, compared with quartile 1 as a reference.
Conclusion: A higher HR was associated with the development of hypertension. Subjects with a higher HR should be followed carefully, even if they are normotensive.