OBJECTIVES: To assess the frequency, magnitude, and prognostic significance of elevations in cardiac troponin T in noncardiac critically ill patients, including elevations at levels below the limit of detection of traditional assays. METHODS: Using a high-sensitivity assay, we measured troponin T (high-sensitivity troponin T [hsTnT]) in 451 unique patients within 12 hours of their admission to a noncardiac medical intensive care unit. Outcomes of patients, grouped by hsTnT level, were compared. RESULTS: Overall, 98% of the study patients had detectable levels of hsTnT (>3 ng/L), and 33% had levels above the diagnostic cutoff of a traditional fourth-generation cardiac troponin T assay. Patient groups with higher hsTnT levels had markedly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (P < .001) and longer stays in the hospital and intensive care unit (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In noncardiac critically ill patients, cardiac troponin T elevations are common but often at levels undetectable by traditional assays. hsTnT elevations predict a more complex clinical course and an increased risk of death.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the frequency, magnitude, and prognostic significance of elevations in cardiac troponin T in noncardiac critically ill patients, including elevations at levels below the limit of detection of traditional assays. METHODS: Using a high-sensitivity assay, we measured troponin T (high-sensitivity troponin T [hsTnT]) in 451 unique patients within 12 hours of their admission to a noncardiac medical intensive care unit. Outcomes of patients, grouped by hsTnT level, were compared. RESULTS: Overall, 98% of the study patients had detectable levels of hsTnT (>3 ng/L), and 33% had levels above the diagnostic cutoff of a traditional fourth-generation cardiac troponin T assay. Patient groups with higher hsTnT levels had markedly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (P < .001) and longer stays in the hospital and intensive care unit (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In noncardiac critically ill patients, cardiac troponin T elevations are common but often at levels undetectable by traditional assays. hsTnT elevations predict a more complex clinical course and an increased risk of death.
Entities:
Keywords:
Medical intensive care unit; Troponin; hsTnT
Authors: Azam Torabi; John G F Cleland; Nasser Sherwi; Paul Atkin; Hossein Panahi; Eric Kilpatrick; Simon Thackray; Angela Hoye; Farqad Alamgir; Kevin Goode; Alan Rigby; Andrew L Clark Journal: Open Heart Date: 2016-12-30