Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • Articles & podcasts
    • Blog posts
    • Collection
    • News
  • Content
    • Current issue
    • Past issues
    • Early releases
    • Collections
    • Sections
    • Blog
    • Infographics & illustrations
    • Podcasts
  • Authors
    • Overview for authors
    • Submission guidelines
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Forms
    • Editorial process
    • Editorial policies
    • Peer review process
    • Publication fees
    • Reprint requests
  • CMA Members
    • Overview for members
    • Earn CPD Credits
    • Print copies of CMAJ
    • Career Ad Discount
  • Subscribers
    • General information
    • View prices
  • Alerts
    • Email alerts
    • RSS
  • JAMC
    • À propos
    • Numéro en cours
    • Archives
    • Sections
    • Abonnement
    • Alertes
    • Trousse média 2021
  • CMAJ JOURNALS
    • CMAJ Open
    • CJS
    • JAMC
    • JPN

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
CMAJ
  • CMAJ JOURNALS
    • CMAJ Open
    • CJS
    • JAMC
    • JPN
CMAJ

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • COVID-19
    • Articles & podcasts
    • Blog posts
    • Collection
    • News
  • Content
    • Current issue
    • Past issues
    • Early releases
    • Collections
    • Sections
    • Blog
    • Infographics & illustrations
    • Podcasts
  • Authors
    • Overview for authors
    • Submission guidelines
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Forms
    • Editorial process
    • Editorial policies
    • Peer review process
    • Publication fees
    • Reprint requests
  • CMA Members
    • Overview for members
    • Earn CPD Credits
    • Print copies of CMAJ
    • Career Ad Discount
  • Subscribers
    • General information
    • View prices
  • Alerts
    • Email alerts
    • RSS
  • JAMC
    • À propos
    • Numéro en cours
    • Archives
    • Sections
    • Abonnement
    • Alertes
    • Trousse média 2021
  • Visit CMAJ on Facebook
  • Follow CMAJ on Twitter
  • Follow CMAJ on Pinterest
  • Follow CMAJ on Youtube
  • Follow CMAJ on Instagram
Research

Resting heart rate, heart rate variability and functional decline in old age

Giulia Ogliari, Simin Mahinrad, David J. Stott, J. Wouter Jukema, Simon P. Mooijaart, Peter W. Macfarlane, Elaine N. Clark, Patricia M. Kearney, Rudi G.J. Westendorp, Anton J. M. de Craen and Behnam Sabayan
CMAJ October 20, 2015 187 (15) E442-E449; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.150462
Giulia Ogliari
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Simin Mahinrad
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
David J. Stott
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
J. Wouter Jukema
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Simon P. Mooijaart
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Peter W. Macfarlane
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Elaine N. Clark
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Patricia M. Kearney
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Rudi G.J. Westendorp
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anton J. M. de Craen
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Behnam Sabayan
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Ogliari, Mahinrad, Mooijaart, Westendorp, de Craen, Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health (Ogliari), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine (Stott), Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology (Jukema), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute for Evidence-Based Medicine in Old Age (Mooijaart), Leiden, the Netherlands; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (Macfarlane, Clark), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (Kearney), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Public Health (Westendorp), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Radiology (Sabayan), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: b.sabayan@lumc.nl
  • Article
  • Figures & Tables
  • Related Content
  • Metrics
  • Responses
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Background: Heart rate and heart rate variability, markers of cardiac autonomic function, have been linked with cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether heart rate and heart rate variability are associated with functional status in older adults, independent of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We obtained data from the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). A total of 5042 participants were included in the present study, and mean follow-up was 3.2 years. Heart rate and heart rate variability were derived from baseline 10-second electrocardiograms. Heart rate variability was defined as the standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN). Functional status in basic (ADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities of daily living was measured using Barthel and Lawton scales, at baseline and during follow-up.

Results: The mean age of the study population was 75.3 years. At baseline, higher heart rate was associated with worse ADL and IADL, and lower SDNN was related to worse IADL (all p values < 0.05). Participants in the highest tertile of heart rate (range 71–117 beats/min) had a 1.79-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45–2.22) and 1.35-fold (95% CI 1.12–1.63) higher risk of decline in ADL and IADL, respectively (p for trend < 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Participants in the lowest tertile of SDNN (range 1.70–13.30 ms) had 1.21-fold (95% CI 1.00–1.46) and 1.25-fold (95% CI 1.05–1.48) higher risk of decline in ADL and IADL, respectively (both p for trends < 0.05). All associations were independent of sex, medications, cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities.

Interpretation: Higher resting heart rate and lower heart rate variability were associated with worse functional status and with higher risk of future functional decline in older adults, independent of cardiovascular disease. This study provides insight into the role of cardiac autonomic function in the development of functional decline.

  • Accepted July 27, 2015.
View Full Text
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Canadian Medical Association Journal: 187 (15)
CMAJ
Vol. 187, Issue 15
20 Oct 2015
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author

Article tools

Respond to this article
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
To sign up for email alerts or to access your current email alerts, enter your email address below:
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on CMAJ.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Resting heart rate, heart rate variability and functional decline in old age
(Your Name) has sent you a message from CMAJ
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the CMAJ web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Resting heart rate, heart rate variability and functional decline in old age
Giulia Ogliari, Simin Mahinrad, David J. Stott, J. Wouter Jukema, Simon P. Mooijaart, Peter W. Macfarlane, Elaine N. Clark, Patricia M. Kearney, Rudi G.J. Westendorp, Anton J. M. de Craen, Behnam Sabayan
CMAJ Oct 2015, 187 (15) E442-E449; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.150462

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
‍ Request Permissions
Share
Resting heart rate, heart rate variability and functional decline in old age
Giulia Ogliari, Simin Mahinrad, David J. Stott, J. Wouter Jukema, Simon P. Mooijaart, Peter W. Macfarlane, Elaine N. Clark, Patricia M. Kearney, Rudi G.J. Westendorp, Anton J. M. de Craen, Behnam Sabayan
CMAJ Oct 2015, 187 (15) E442-E449; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.150462
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Interpretation
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Tables
  • Related Content
  • Responses
  • Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Highlights
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Association between resting heart rate and coronary artery disease, stroke, sudden death and noncardiovascular diseases: a meta-analysis
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • The impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • Association between antihypertensive medications and risk of skin cancer in people older than 65 years: a population-based study
  • Effectiveness of intrapartum fetal surveillance to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Show more Research

Similar Articles

Collections

  • Topics
    • Geriatric medicine
    • Cardiovascular medicine

Content

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Collections
  • Sections
  • Blog
  • Podcasts
  • Alerts
  • RSS
  • Early releases

Information for

  • Advertisers
  • Authors
  • Reviewers
  • CMA Members
  • Media
  • Reprint requests
  • Subscribers

About

  • General Information
  • Journal staff
  • Editorial Board
  • Governance Council
  • Journal Oversight
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Copyright and Permissions

Copyright 2021, CMA Joule Inc. or its licensors. All rights reserved. ISSN 1488-2329 (e) 0820-3946 (p)

All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association or its subsidiaries.

To receive any of the resources on this site in an accessible format, please contact us at cmajgroup@cmaj.ca.

Powered by HighWire