Resting heart rate changes may predict cardiovascular disease risk

Increases in resting heart rate during a 10-year period may be an accurate measure of a person's future risk of developing cardiovascular disease and experiencing a heart attack, according to a new study. The findings could be used to determine which patients may benefit from a prescription to buy Plavix.

For the study, researchers from the Norwegian University of Science Technology tracked the changes in cardiovascular risk factors in nearly 30,000 participants over a 10-year period. The results showed that increases in resting heart rate appeared to be among the strongest predictors of heart disease.

The researchers said their findings could lead to the identification of many people who are likely to develop heart disease but have few traditional cardiovascular risk factors, as it is relatively easy for physicians to collect information on resting heart rate and compare it over time.

"Our findings provide further support for the hypothesis that resting heart rate may be an important prognostic marker for ischemic heart disease and total mortality. Information on resting heart rate and its time-related changes are easy to obtain and follow-up and may be useful in identifying asymptomatic people," the researchers said.