Whelton SP, et al. - Whether lifelong exposure to increased hemodynamic stress from an elevated resting heart rate (HR) may contribute to aortic valve calcium (AVC), was investigated. The association of a higher resting HR with AVC was shown in observational analysis but genetic results did not support a causal relation. Furthermore, the link between resting HR and AVC could be attributed to unmeasured environmental and/or lifestyle factors associated with both increased resting HR and AVC.