Factors affecting heart rate as measured at home among treated hypertensive patients: The Japan home versus office blood pressure measurement evaluation (J-HOME) study

Abstract

We previously reported that a resting heart rate measured at home (home HR) of ≥70 beats per minute was a powerful predictor of the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, and identified factors affecting home HR in the general Japanese population. The present study examines factors affecting home HR in hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive medications. Home HR was measured using a home blood pressure (BP) device. Information about the characteristics of the patients was collected using questionnaires administered by a physician. Among 3,400 patients, 3,086 measured home HR both in the morning and evening. The mean values of home HR in the morning and evening were 67.2±9.1 and 69.6±9.2 beats per minute, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that lower age, diabetes mellitus, habitual smoking, higher diastolic BP, and the lack of β-blocker or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use were determinants of elevated morning or evening home HR. These results suggest that adequate control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as smoking and diabetes mellitus or use of heart rate-lowering agents might help to decrease home HR in treated hypertensive patients.