The prognostic value of the heart rate response during exercise and recovery in patients with heart failure: Influence of beta-blockade

BackgroundThe heart rate increase during exercise (ΔHR) and heart rate recovery (HRR) have demonstrated prognostic value in several investigations, but its application in the heart failure (HF) population is limited, particularly in a beta-blocked (BB) cohort.MethodsFive-hundred and twenty subjects with HF underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to determine peak oxygen consumption (VO2), the minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope, ΔHR and HRR at 1 min (HRR1).ResultsThere were 79 cardiac-related deaths during the tracking period. A HRR1 threshold of