La fréquence cardiaque, facteur pronostique majeur du risque cardiovasculaire

Heart Rate, a Major Prognostic Factor of Cardiovascular Risk. The prognostic value of heart rate (HR) was analysed based on the reports from the literature in the general population and in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Multivariate analyses showed that elevated resting HR was found to be an independent predictor of total and cardiovascular mortality. The behaviour of HR during exercise testing was predictive of sudden death. The beneficial effects of betablockers in post-infarction patients are well established. Calcium channel blockers that increase resting HR are associated with a deleterious effect on mortality. Therefore, resting HR should not be overlooked in risk stratification of CAD patients. Reduction of resting HR should be viewed as an attractive therapeutic target in CAD patients