AimIt has been shown that heart rate recovery index is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. It has been reported in most epidomiologic studies that an elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between heart rate recovery index and neutrophillymphocyte ratio.Materials and MethodsA total of 238 patients who underwent coronary angiography due to abnormal treadmill exercise test results and who admitted to Cardiology Department of Faculty of Medicine at Namık Kemal University were evaluated retrospectively. heart rate recovery index was accepted as abnormal when the difference between peak heart rate at maximal exercise and the heart rate at the first minute of recovery phase is 18 beat or less.ResultsIn the comparison between those with abnormal heart rate recovery index and those with normal heart rate recovery index in terms of neutrophil count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was found a significant relationship. (respectively, p=0,027 ve p=0.000).ConclusionConsequently, our findings may potentially suggest that an elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with abnormal heart rate recovery index might be related to cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The investigation of the prognostic significance of elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with abnormal heart rate recovery index in future prospective studies will be provide more conclusive evidence
