<p><span>Introduction: </span>The rate pressure product (RPP) is a strong determinant of myocardial oxygen consumption, and relates strongly to important indices for morbidity and cardiovascular mortality. Its significance in Black-African subjects with heart failure (HF) has however not been well described. This study therefore aimed to assess the significance of RPP among admitted HF patients in 2 Nigerian centres.</p><p><span>Methods: </span>Admitted HF patients in the 2 centres were serially recruited after satisfying all inclusion criteria. RPP was calculated by multiplying heart rate by systolic blood pressure at admission. Subjects were classified into 2 groups based on RPP <10,000 (log10 <4.0) (group 1) or above (group 2), which is a cut-off value above which there is increased risk of myocardial ischemia.</p><p><span>Results: </span>100 subjects were recruited from the 2 centres with a mean age of 47.3+/-19.5 years, and 53% were females. 35% of the subjects were in group 1 while 65% were in group 2. N-Terminal B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NTBNP), serially measured in only 37 subjects (12 in group 1; 25 in group 2), was significantly higher in group 1 as compared with group 2 (p=0.016). Group 1 also had lower interventricular septal thickness(IVST) (p=0.007) as compared with group 2 subjects. RPP correlated strongly with IVST (r=+0.510, p<0.001), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) (r=+0.399, p<0.001) and LV end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) (r=-0.202, p=0.045). Log10 >4.0 was strongly associated with IVST (95%confidence interval (CI): 1.061-1.528, p=0.009) and NT-BNP (CI:0.999-1.000, p=0.026). There was however no significant relationship (p>0.05) between RPP and in-hospital mortality, severity of dyspnoea, gender, age, body weight, LV ejection fraction or presence of atrial fibrillation/flutter.</p><p><span>Conclusion: </span>This study confirms the close relationship that exists between a determinant of myocardial oxygen consumption (RPP), and indices for LV wall tension (IVST, LVEDD and NT-BNP), in Black-Africans with HF.</p>