Peak troponin T in STEMI: a predictor of all-cause mortality and left ventricular function

The clinical significance of peak troponin levels following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not been definitively established. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between peak high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and all-cause mortality at 30 days and 1 year, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in STEMI.

A single-centre retrospective observational study was conducted of all patients with STEMI between January 2015 and December 2017. Demographics and clinical data were obtained through electronic patient records. Standard Bayesian statistics were employed for analysis.

During the study period, 568 patients presented with STEMI. The mean age was 63.6±12 years and 76.4% were men. Of these, 535 (94.2%) underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention, 12 (2.1%) underwent urgent coronary artery bypass and 21 (3.7%) were treated medically. Mean peak hs-cTnT levels were significantly higher in those who died within 30 days compared with those who survived (12 238 ng/L vs 4657 ng/L, respectively; p=0.004). Peak hs-cTnT levels were also significantly higher in those who died within 1 year compared with those who survived (10 319 ng/L vs 4622 ng/L, respectively; p=0.003). The left anterior descending artery was associated with the highest hs-cTnT and was the most common culprit in those who died at 1 year. An inverse relationship was demonstrated between peak hs-cTnT and LVEF (Pearson's R=0.379; p<0.00001).

In STEMI, those who died at 30 days and 1 year had significantly higher peak troponin levels than those who survived. Peak troponin is also inversely proportional to LVEF with higher troponins associated with lower LVEF.