Final answer:
A trained athlete would likely have the slowest at-rest pulse rate due to increased cardiovascular fitness, potentially exhibiting a condition called bradycardia with resting heart rates well below the normal 60-100 bpm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient that you would expect to have the slowest at-rest pulse rate is typically a trained athlete. This is because athletes often exhibit lower resting heart rates due to increased cardiovascular fitness. The normal resting heart rate (HR) for an adult ranges between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm), but bradycardia is a condition where the resting rate drops below 60 bpm.
Trained athletes may have resting heart rates well below this threshold, but this is generally not a concern unless accompanied by symptoms like dizziness or fainting, which could indicate insufficient blood flow. In the case of exceptionally trained aerobic athletes, resting heart rates can range from 30-40 bpm. However, if a resting HR is too low, it could lead to inadequate blood flow and eventually unconsciousness or death if it falls much below 50 bpm without medical intervention, such as a pacemaker.