Baseline characteristics (1993) according to different patterns of heart rate change over time
| Parameters | Increased HR group (n=111) | Stable HR group (n=206) | Decreased HR group (n=337) | P value |
| RHR change from 1993 to 2013 mean±SD | +(10±6) | (4.±2) | - (13±7) | <0.001 |
| Lifestyle | ||||
| Never smoker, n (%) | 41 (36.9) | 74 (35.9) | 107 (31.8) | 0.454 |
| Previous smoker, n (%) | 38 (34.2) | 83 (40.3) | 128 (38.0) | 0.432 |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 32 (28.8) | 49 (23.8) | 102 (30.3) | 0.532 |
| Sedentary lifestyle, n (%) | 10 (9.0) | 26 (12.6) | 55 (16.3) | 0.126 |
| Sleeping time per night, hour, mean±SD | 7.0±1.0 | 7.0±0.9 | 6.9±1.0 | 0.994 |
| Mental stress, n (%) | 17 (15.5) | 25 (12.2) | 52 (15.5) | 0.543 |
| Clinical characteristics | ||||
| BMI, kg/m2, mean±SD | 25.8±3.3 | 25.8±3.1 | 26.6±3.4 | 0.014 |
| Waist circumference, cm, mean±SD | 93.1±8.4 | 94.0±8.6 | 96.6±9.3 | <0.001 |
| Systolic BP, mm Hg, mean±SD | 128.1±17.8 | 127.0±16.2 | 130.1±16.8 | 0.096 |
| Diastolic BP, mm Hg, mean±SD | 84.2±11.4 | 83.0±9.7 | 84.9±10.6 | 0.116 |
| Medical history, n (%) | ||||
| Hypertension | 16 (14.5) | 30 (9.8) | 39 (11.6) | 0.446 |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 16 (14.5) | 20 (9.8) | 33 (9.8) | 0.334 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 1 (1) | 3 (1) | 2 (1) | 0.894 |
| Diabetes | 2 (1.8) | 2 (1.0) | 9 (2.7) | 0.388 |
| Stroke | 0 | 1 (0.5) | 0 | 0.336 |
| Lung disease | 4 (3.6) | 18 (8.7) | 18 (5.3) | 0.133 |
| Laboratory characteristics, mean±SD | ||||
| Cholesterol, mmol/L | 5.9±1.0 | 5.8±1.0 | 5.9±1.0 | 0.216 |
| Triglyceride, mmol/L | 1.7±1.0 | 1.5±0.9 | 1.7±1.0 | 0.252 |
| HDL, mmol/L | 1.3±0.3 | 1.4±0.4 | 1.3±0.3 | 0.066 |
| Creatinine, mmol/L | 91.1±11.2 | 90.8±10.0 | 91.6±9.9 | 0.605 |
| NT-pro-BNP, pg/mL | 37.5±46.2 | 34.9±43.6 | 34.5±42.3 | 0.829 |
| IL-6 | 2.1±1.3 | 2.4±1.4 | 2.8±2.4 | 0.002 |
BP, blood pressure; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; IL-6, interleukin 6; NT-pro-BNP, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide.