Table 1:

Pooled results for risk of coronary artery disease, by resting heart rate (reference: < 60 beats/min)

Variable	60–70 beats/min		70–80 beats/min		> 80 beats/min		10 beats/min increment
	n	RR (95% CI)	n	RR (95% CI)	n	RR (95% CI)	n	RR (95% CI)
Overall	16	0.99 (0.93–1.04)	23	1.08 (1.01–1.16)	29	1.30 (1.19–1.43)‡	39	1.12 (1.09–1.14)
Mean age
> 50 yr	10	1.02 (0.95–1.09)	13	1.09 (1.02–1.18)	15	1.28 (1.14–1.43)‡	23	1.11 (1.08–1.14)
≤ 50 yr	6	0.93 (0.81–1.06)	10	1.07 (0.92–1.23)	14	1.37 (1.15–1.63)‡	16	1.13 (1.09–1.17)
Absence of CVD at baseline
Yes	13	0.99 (0.92–1.06)	16	1.07 (0.97–1.17)	22	1.28 (1.14–1.42)‡	26	1.12 (1.10–1.15)
No	3	0.91 (0.73–1.15)	7	1.15 (1.02–1.29)	7	1.37 (1.18–1.60)	13	1.10 (1.06–1.15)
Sex
Men	7	0.97 (0.88–1.08)	10	1.09 (0.97–1.22)	12	1.37 (1.15–1.63)‡	15	1.12 (1.08–1.16)
Women	5	0.95 (0.80–1.13)‡	7	1.01 (0.91–1.11)	10	1.28 (1.11–1.47)	12	1.13 (1.09–1.16)
All	4	1.03 (0.89–1.18)	6	1.17 (1.03–1.33)	7	1.28 (1.08–1.52)	12	1.10 (1.06–1.15)
No. of covariables* adjusted for in meta-regression†
≥ 6	9	1.05 (0.97–1.14)	10	1.21 (1.07–1.37)	15	1.47 (1.27–1.69)	22	1.13 (1.10–1.17)
< 6	7	0.93 (0.86–1.00)	13	1.00 (0.93–1.07)	14	1.19 (1.07–1.32)‡	17	1.10 (1.08–1.13)

Note: CI = confidence interval, CVD = cardiovascular disease, n = number of studies with sex-specific results that were included in the analysis, RR = relative risk.

^*Covariables were blood pressure, smoking, body mass index, physical activity, serum cholesterol or triglycerides, diabetes mellitus and blood glucose, alcohol use, and education or social class.

^†All associations determined by “meta-regression were nonsignificant (p > 0.05), except for the subgroup analysis by number of covariates adjusted for in the categories of “70–80 beats/min” and “> 80 beats/min.”

^‡Heterogeneity was moderate (I² value between 50% and 75%). For RR values without this symbol, heterogeneity was low (I² < 50%).