Many people rely on smartwatches to track their heart health, often by counting steps or monitoring their average heart rate. Now, researchers suggest combining these two numbers using a little basic math: simply divide your average daily heart rate by your daily step count.
This new measurement, called the Daily Heart Rate Per Step (DHRPS), could give you a better understanding of how efficiently your heart is working. According to a recent study by researchers at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, a higher DHRPS score may indicate a higher risk of certain health conditions.
What the Study Found
Researchers discovered that individuals with a higher DHRPS—meaning their hearts work less efficiently—were more likely to develop conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and coronary artery disease.
“It’s a measure of inefficiency,” explained Zhanlin Chen, a third-year medical student at Northwestern and the study’s lead author. “The higher your DHRPS, the harder your heart has to work for each step you take.”
Why This Metric Matters
Some experts believe DHRPS is a valuable improvement over tracking steps or heart rate alone. Dr. Peter Aziz, a pediatric cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, noted, “What’s probably more important for cardio fitness is what your heart does in relation to the work it has to perform. This is a reasonable way to measure that.”
Although the DHRPS doesn’t factor in exercise heart rate, it still provides a useful snapshot of overall heart efficiency. The study, which analyzed Fitbit data from nearly 7,000 smartwatch users alongside their medical records, found a clear link between higher DHRPS scores and increased disease risk.
How to Calculate Your DHRPS
Let’s take two examples:
- Person A walks 10,000 steps a day and has an average heart rate of 80 bpm. Their DHRPS is 0.008.
- Person B also walks 10,000 steps but has an average heart rate of 120 bpm. Their DHRPS is 0.012.
The higher the ratio, the greater the potential risk for heart-related issues.
A Low-Cost Way to Track Heart Health
Chen and his team designed this metric to be simple and accessible, using data most smartwatch users already collect. “People who want to take charge of their health can do a little math to figure this out,” he said.
So, if you’re already tracking your steps and heart rate, why not take an extra step and calculate your DHRPS? A small math equation could offer valuable insights into your heart health and overall well-being.
