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Cardiac Troponin Linked to Higher Mortality in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Patients testing positive for cardiac troponin upon admission for heart failure may face increased risk for in-hospital mortality, according to a retrospective study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Using national registry data, researchers identified nearly 68,000 patients with acute decompensated heart failure who underwent serum troponin measurement within 24 hours of hospital admission. (Patients with renal dysfunction were excluded.) Roughly 6% tested positive for troponin — defined as troponin I 1.0 µg/L or troponin T 0.1 µg/L.

In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among troponin-positive versus troponin-negative patients (8% vs. 3%). After multivariable adjustment, the odds ratio for death among troponin-positive patients was 2.6.

LINK(S):

NEJM article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)

Journal Watch Cardiology summary (Free)

Published in Physician's First Watch May 15, 2008