Knut Stavem1, Jan Erikssen. 1. Medical Department, Akershus University Hospital, N-1478 Lørenskog, Norway. knut.stavem@klinmed.uio.no
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In various diseases, resting respiratory rate (RR) is associated with mortality. We hypothesized that RR could be an early marker of low-grade disease and hence be associated with mortality also in healthy individuals. The objective of the study was to assess if resting RR was associated with long-term mortality in healthy males. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: In a cohort of healthy men aged 40-59, we studied the relation of RR in 1972-1975 with all-cause and respiratory mortality until 2000. We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among 1,623 men, 615 died during follow-up, 96 from respiratory causes. Men in the upper RR quartile (>16 breaths/min) had higher all-cause mortality than in the lowest quartile (<13 breaths/min), HR 1.29 (95% CI 1.04-1.60, P=0.02), though this was not statistically significant in multivariable models. Resting RR was not associated with respiratory mortality. CONCLUSION: RR at rest was not independently associated with long-term all-cause or respiratory mortality in this cohort of healthy men.
OBJECTIVE: In various diseases, resting respiratory rate (RR) is associated with mortality. We hypothesized that RR could be an early marker of low-grade disease and hence be associated with mortality also in healthy individuals. The objective of the study was to assess if resting RR was associated with long-term mortality in healthy males. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: In a cohort of healthy men aged 40-59, we studied the relation of RR in 1972-1975 with all-cause and respiratory mortality until 2000. We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among 1,623 men, 615 died during follow-up, 96 from respiratory causes. Men in the upper RR quartile (>16 breaths/min) had higher all-cause mortality than in the lowest quartile (<13 breaths/min), HR 1.29 (95% CI 1.04-1.60, P=0.02), though this was not statistically significant in multivariable models. Resting RR was not associated with respiratory mortality. CONCLUSION: RR at rest was not independently associated with long-term all-cause or respiratory mortality in this cohort of healthy men.