Cardiac troponin I levels measured with a high-sensitive assay increase over time and are strong predictors of mortality in an elderly population

• BACKGROUND:Cardiac troponin levels are often detectable in community-dwellers when sensitive assays are applied. However, information on the course of troponin levels over time is limited.OBJECTIVES:We assessed changes in troponin levels, underlying conditions and the prognostic implications thereof in elderly subjects from the community.METHODS: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was measured using a novel high-sensitive assay from Abbott Laboratories in community-dwellers aged 70 years (PIVUS study). Measurements were performed at baseline (n=1004) and after 5 years (n=814). Total follow-up was 8.0 years.RESULTS:cTnI levels were detectable in 968 (96.4%) subjects at baseline, and independently predicted all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.44 [95% CI 1.18-1.77]) and cardiovascular mortality (adjusted HR 1.66 [95% CI 1.20-2.29]) when levels from baseline and 5-year follow-up were used as updated covariates. The integrated discrimination improvement of cTnI regarding all-cause mortality was 0.014 (p=0.04) and the category-free net reclassification improvement was 0.231 (p=0.02). Median cTnI levels increased by 45% between both measurements. The change in cTnI levels was significantly related to male sex (p=0.02), body mass index (p=0.01), HDL-cholesterol (p=0.005), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (p=0.004) and the left-ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.04), and independently predicted all-cause mortality occurring after 5-year follow-up (adjusted HR 1.97 [1.14-3.40]; p=0.02).CONCLUSIONS:Using a novel high-sensitive assay, cTnI levels could be determined in nearly all elderly subjects. cTnI levels increased over time and were a strong marker of mortality risk. Our data suggest that cTnI might offer utility for clinical assessment of subjects in the general population.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)