Association between resting heart rate and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in a community-based population study in Beijing

BACKGROUND N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is associated with an increased risk of cardiac insufficiency, which possibly leads to heart failure. However, the relationship between resting heart rate and NT-proBNP is unclear. OBJECTIVE This study focuses on this relativity between resting heart rate and plasma NT-proBNP levels in a surveyed community-based population. METHODS We evaluated the relativity between resting heart rate and plasma levels of NT-proBNP in 1,567 participants (mean age 61.0 years, range 21-96 years) from a community-based population in Beijing, People's Republic of China. RESULTS In patients with high resting heart rate (≥75 beats/min), NT-proBNP was higher than in those having low resting heart rate (<75 beats/min). In multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, plasma NT-proBNP was associated with resting heart rate (partial correlation coefficient, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-1.51; P=0.011). A subsequent subgroup analysis revealed that the association between resting heart rate and plasma NT-proBNP was strengthened in subjects over 60 years old (partial correlation coefficient 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-2.36; P=0.031); while the relativity between resting heart rate and plasma NT-proBNP was not emerged in the younger subgroup (<60 years old). CONCLUSIONS Resting heart rate was associated with plasma NT-proBNP in the elderly, which indicated a relationship between resting heart rate and cardiac function damage.