Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between resting heart rate（RHR）and new-onset hypertension（NOH）in the non-diabetic population in northern China. Methods There were 101 510employees in the Kailuan Group who took part in the 2006-2007health examination. In this prospective cohort study,49 290subjects from the above employees with no history of hypertension and diabetes,without the administration of hypoglycemic agents or anti-hypertension drugs,with complete data from physical examinations of systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and RHR,and with a fasting blood glucose level＜7.0mmol/L,systolic blood pressure＜140mm Hg,and diastolic blood pressure＜90mm Hg were selected. A total of 29 680participants were enrolled for the ultimate analysis after those were excluded who did not participate in the 2008-2009or 2010-2011health examination and had no complete information on blood pressure. According to the RHR data collected in the 2006-2007health examination,those subjects were divided into 4groups:RHR＜67,67-＜71,71-＜78and≥78beat/min group, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model was assumed for analyzing the relationship between RHR and NOH. Results The mean follow-up period for all the cases was（3.5±0.9）years. The incidence density of NOH in RHR＜67,67-＜71,71-＜78and≥78beat/min group were 102.2,107.2,112.1and 120.3per 1000person-years,respectively. Furthermore,the corresponding incidence density for men and women in the four groups were 116.3,124.5,132.5,139.4and 60.5,63.6,65.1,68.9per 1000person-years,respectively. Multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed that compared with RHR＜67beat/min group,the other three RHR groups had an increased risk of NOH after adjustment for age,gender,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,body mass index,fastingblood glucose and other risk factors. The hazard ratios（95% CI）for 67-＜71,71-＜78and ≥78beat/min group were 1.07（1.01-1.13）,1.08（1.02-1.14）and 1.15（1.09-1.22）,respectively. After adjustment for the above factors in men and women,the influence of heart rate on NOH in women was not significant,but it was still a risk factor for NOH in men. Conclusion Increased RHR can indicate a higher risk of hypertension,particularly in men.