Resting heart rate is a risk factor for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality.

In a prospective cohort study associations of resting heart rate with risk of coronary cardiovascular disease cancer and all-cause mortality in age-specific cohorts of black and white men and women were examined over 22 years of follow-up. Participants were employees from 84 [U.S.] companies and organizations in the Chicago Illinois area.... In summary heart rate was a risk factor for mortality from coronary disease all cardiovascular diseases and all causes in the younger men and in middle-aged men and women and for cancer mortality in middle-aged men and women. (EXCERPT)