Key result
Mean heart rate was not significantly associated with the progression of mean intimal thickness in heart transplant patients over 12 months (baseline R = .02, P = .83).
Why the study?
Heart rate slowing agents are frequently prescribed in heart transplant recipients under the assumption that higher heart rate is a cardiovascular risk factor.
Does heart rate reduction prevent early progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart transplant patients?
Cohort (n=116)
Yes
Does heart rate reduction prevent early progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart transplant patients?
Mean heart rate is not directly associated with early progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, though beta-blockers may offer a protective effect.
Mean heart rate unrelated to early CAV progression; leaves open whether beta-blockers slow intimal thickening and requires prospective confirmation.
INTRODUCTION: Heart rate slowing agents are frequently prescribed to manage heart transplant (HTx) patients with the assumption that higher heart rate is a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective two-center study investigated early progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in 116 HTx patients. Examinations by coronary optical coherence tomography and 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring were performed both at baseline (1 month after HTx) and during follow-up (12 months after HTx). RESULTS: (P < .001), and progression in mean intimal thickness (IT) from 106.5 ± 40.4 to 130.1 ± 53.0 µm (P < .001). No significant relationship was observed between baseline and follow-up mean heart rates and IT progression (R = .02, P = .83; R = -.13, P = .18). We found a mild inverse association between beta-blocker dosage at 12 months and IT progression (R = -.20, P = .035). CONCLUSION: Our study did not confirm a direct association between mean heart rate and progression of CAV. The role of beta blockers warrants further investigation, with our results indicating that they may play a protective role in early CAV development.
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Pazderník et al. (2019) conducted a cohort in Cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart transplant patients (n=116). Mean heart rate was evaluated on Progression in mean intimal thickness (IT) (R = .02, p=.83). Mean heart rate was not significantly associated with the progression of mean intimal thickness in heart transplant patients over 12 months (baseline R = .02, P = .83).
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