Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate and Carotid–Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity in the Elderly With Prehypertension

Abstract

Abstract Background To investigate the relationship between resting heart rate and carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in patients with prehypertension. Methods A total of 288 outpatients with prehypertension and 326 normotensive outpatients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were enrolled between March 2017 and March 2019. Body weight, resting heart rate, and blood pressure of all patients were recorded. Blood biochemical indexes and cfPWV were determined. Results Compared with the normotensive controls, cfPWV in the prehypertension group was significantly higher (P < 0.01). There was an increase in cfPWV with advancing age in both prehypertension and control groups, and cfPWV in males was higher than females. In the prehypertension group, after stratified with age and gender, partial correlation analysis showed that resting heart rate was positively correlated with cfPWV (r = 0.230, P < 0.01). After adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors, multivariable stepwise regression analysis indicated that resting heart rate, age, and gender were independently associated with cfPWV in the prehypertension group (all P < 0.01). Moreover, resting heart rate was independently associated with cfPWV in the patients with prehypertension aged ≥60 years in both males and females (all P < 0.01). However, in patients with prehypertension aged <60 years, no significant correlation was observed between resting heart rate and cfPWV. Conclusions In the elderly with prehypertension, resting heart rate is independently associated with cfPWV.