Mixed
Low heart rate variability (HRV < 20 msec) measured from short resting electrocardiograms predicts significantly higher all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly men, independent of coronary heart disease.
Low heart rate variability, measured via a short ECG, is a strong warning sign for increased risk of death from all causes, not just heart disease. For men, maintaining higher HRV (ideally >40 msec) is associated with better long-term survival. This suggests that practices supporting autonomic balance (like stress management and exercise) may be crucial for longevity.
In conclusion, in middle-aged men and probably in elderly men, low heart rate variability is predictive of mortality from all causes. This suggests that low heart rate variability is an indicator of compromised health in the general population.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort study (Zutphen Study) with long follow-up (up to 30 years) and multiple adjustments for confounders.
Source
Heart Rate Variability from Short Electrocardiographic Recordings Predicts Mortality from All Causes in Middle-aged and Elderly Men: The Zutphen Study
Joost Dekker et al. · American Journal of Epidemiology · 1997
DOI 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009049
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