Key result
Untreated hypertensive patients with a resting heart rate >80 bpm had significantly higher muscle sympathetic nerve traffic compared to those with lower heart rates (72.77 vs 36.83 bursts/min, P<0.0001).
Why the study?
Hypertension guidelines identify resting heart rate >80 bpm as a predictor of cardiovascular risk, based on the unproven assumption that it reflects sympathetic overdrive.
Does a resting heart rate >80 bpm reflect sympathetic overdrive in untreated moderate essential hypertensives?
Cross-Sectional (n=193)
Does a resting heart rate >80 bpm reflect sympathetic overdrive in untreated moderate essential hypertensives?
Absolute Event Rate: 72.77% vs 36.83%
p-value: p=<0.0001
In untreated hypertensive patients, a resting heart rate >80 bpm is associated with marked sympathetic overdrive, supporting its use as a marker of cardiovascular risk.
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High resting HR may mark elevated sympathetic activity in untreated hypertension; extends mechanistic insights but leaves therapeutic implications open.
Grassı et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in untreated moderate essential hypertension (n=193). Resting heart rate >80 bpm vs. Resting heart rate <80 bpm was evaluated on Muscle sympathetic nerve traffic (p=<0.0001). Untreated hypertensive patients with a resting heart rate >80 bpm had significantly higher muscle sympathetic nerve traffic compared to those with lower heart rates (72.77 vs 36.83 bursts/min, P<0.0001).
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