The relationship of the degree of coronary stenosis and percutaneous coronary revascularization with heart rate recovery index

OBJECTIVES: Heart rate recovery (HRR) is influenced by autonomic function. We aimed to investigate the effect of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on HRR with respect to the degree of coronary stenosis (DCS) in severe coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: The treatment group (TG) consisted of 70 severe stable CAD patients treated with PCI and the control group (CG), 62 non-critical CAD patients, who were not treated with PCI. All participants underwent exercise test both at baseline and 3 months after coronary angiography (CAG)/PCI. HRR was defined as a change in heart rate from peak exercise to 1 minute after exercise. HRR index was described as the percentage change in HRR from 3 months after CAG/PCI to baseline. RESULTS: The TG had lower HRR than the CG (p<0.001). In the TG, HRR was inversely correlated with the number of diseased vessels at baseline (r=-0.418, p<0.001). HRR index was higher in TG than CG (p