Elevated level of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the elevation of cardiac troponin and the increase of mortality and hospitalization rate in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is clear. This study investigated the association between the extent of elevated levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and the prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study consecutively enrolled 470 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction from September 2014 to August 2017. According to the level of hs-cTnI, the patients were divided into the elevated level group (hs-cTnI >0.034 ng/mL in male and hs-cTnI >0.016 ng/mL in female) and the normal level group. All of the patients were followed up once every 6 months. Adverse cardiovascular events were cardiogenic death and heart failure hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 36.2 ± 7.9 months. Cardiogenic mortality (18.6% [26/140] vs. 1.5% [5/330], P <0.001) and heart failure (HF) hospitalization rate (74.3% [104/140] vs. 43.6% [144/330], P <0.001) were significantly higher in the elevated level group. The Cox regression analysis showed that the elevated level of hs-cTnI was a predictor of cardiogenic death (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.578, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.995–10.386, P <0.001) and HF hospitalization (HR: 3.254, 95% CI: 2.698–3.923, P <0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated that a sensitivity of 72.6% and specificity of 88.8% for correct prediction of adverse cardiovascular events when a level of hs-cTnI of 0.1305 ng/mL in male and a sensitivity of 70.6% and specificity of 90.2% when a level of hs-cTnI of 0.0755 ng/mL in female were used as the cut-off value. CONCLUSION: Significant elevation of hs-cTnI (≥0.1305 ng/mL in male and ≥0.0755 ng/mL in female) is an effective indicator of the increased risk of cardiogenic death and HF hospitalization in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients.