Author`s Reply.

To the Editor,

We thank the author for the great interest in our study entitled “Evaluation of heart rate recovery index in heavy smokers” published in Anatol J Cardiol 2016; 16: 667-72. (1).

The prognostic value of the slow heart rate recovery index (HRRI) after exercise in predicting cardiovascular disease and mortality has been established (2). Our study determined that the 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-, and 5th- minute HRRIs after maximum stress testing were statistically significantly lower in the heavy smoker group than in the nonsmoker healthy control group.

HRRI is calculated by extracting the heart rate during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th minutes after finalizing the test from the patient’s maximum heart rate during exercise. In our study, we used this formula and mentioned it in the “Method” section. However, in the “Introduction” section, the definition was incorrect. Therefore, we thank the author for bringing this to our attention. In summary, HRRI was calculated correctly in our study.