Impaired heart rate recovery as a predictor for poor health-related quality in patients with transient ischemic attack

Abstract

We aimed to investigate heart rate recovery (HRR) in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and the relationship between HRR and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).All available patients were enrolled during the enrollment period. A total of 120 patients with TIA and 120 healthy controls were included in this study. A treadmill stress test was performed to calculate the HRR. The HRR were calculated as follows: HRR 1, 2, 3, and 5minutes=heart rate at peak during exercise-heart rate at 1, 2, 3, and 5minutes at rest. All patients enrolled were asked to fill in the Short Form 36 Health Survey to calculate HRQOL.We found that the maximum heart rate of TIA patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls (166±11 vs. 162±14beats/min, P=.015). Similarly, maximum systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were higher in TIA group compared with healthy control group (SBP: 172±15 vs. 165±14mm Hg, P