Is there excessive troponin testing in clinical practice? Evidence from emergency medical admissions

Elevated Troponins and Diagnosis of Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the Emergency Department

Background In the emergency department (ED), the diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is primarily based on the presence or absence of elevated cardiac troponin levels, ECG changes, and clinical presentation. However, limited data exist regarding the incidence, clinical characteristics, and predictive value of different cardiac diagnostic tests and outcomes in patients with non-acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-related troponin elevation. Our study aimed to determine the percentage of patients with elevated troponin levels who had true ACS and identify various risk factors associated with true ACS in these patients. Methodology This was a single-center retrospective study. We performed a chart review of patients who presented to the ED from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017, and were admitted to the hospital with an elevated cardiac troponin I level in the first 12 hours after ED presentation with a diagnosis of NSTEMI. True ACS was defined as (a) patients with typical symptoms of ischemia and ECG ischemic changes and (b) patients with atypical symptoms of myocardial ischemia or without symptoms of ischemia and new segmental wall motion abnormalities on echocardiogram or evidence of culprit lesion on angiography. A logistic regression model was used to determine the association between risk factors and true ACS. Results A total of 204 patients were included in this study. The mean age of the study group was 67.4 ± 14.5 years; 53.4% (n = 109) were male, and 57.4% (n = 117) were Caucasian. In our study, 51% of patients were found to have true ACS, and the remaining 49% had a non-ACS-related elevation in troponins. Most patients without ACS had alternate explanations for elevated troponin levels. The presence of chest pain (odds ratio (OR) = 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8-7.7, p = 0.001), tobacco smoking (OR = 4, 95% CI = 1.06-3.8, p = 0.032), and wall motion abnormalities on echocardiogram (OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.8-6.5, p = 001) were associated with increased risk of true ACS in patients with elevated troponins. Conclusions Cardiac troponin levels can be elevated in hospitalized patients with various medical conditions, in the absence of ACS. The diagnosis of ACS should not be solely based on elevated troponin levels, as it can lead to expensive workup and utilization of hospital resources.

Improved Utilization of Serial Testing Without Increased Admissions after Implementation of High-Sensitivity Troponin I: a Controlled Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) for diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Use of hs-cTn is increasing across the U.S., but questions remain regarding clinical and operational impact. Prior studies have had methodologic limitations and yielded conflicting results.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of transitioning from conventional cardiac troponin (cTn) to hs-cTn on test and resource utilization, operational efficiency, and patient safety.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study in two New York City hospitals during the months before and after transition from conventional cTn to hs-cTn at Hospital 1. Hospital 2 served as a control.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive emergency department (ED) patients with at least one cTn test resulted.

INTERVENTION

Multifaceted hs-cTn intervention bundle, including a 0/2-h diagnostic algorithm for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, an educational bundle, enhancements to the electronic medical record, and nursing interventions to facilitate timed sample collection.

MAIN MEASURES

Primary outcomes included serial cTn test utilization, probability of hospital admission, ED length of stay (LOS), and among discharged patients, probability of ED revisit within 72 h resulting in hospital admission. Multivariable regression models adjusted for age, sex, temporal trends, and interhospital differences.

KEY RESULTS

The intervention was associated with increased use of serial cTn testing (adjusted risk difference: 48 percentage points, 95% CI: 45-50, P < 0.001) and ED LOS (adjusted geometric mean difference: 50 min, 95% CI: 50-51, P < 0.001). There was no significant association between the intervention and probability of admission (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.89-1.1, P = 0.81) or probability of ED revisit within 72 h resulting in admission (aRR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.44-2.9, P = 0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a hs-cTn intervention bundle was associated with an improvement in serial cTn testing, a neutral effect on probability of hospital admission, and a modest increase in ED LOS.

Admission high-sensitivity cardiac troponin levels as a prognostic indicator for in-hospital mortality rates in the elderly and very elderly COVID-19 patients

BACKGROUND

Elevation of cardiac troponin (cTn) is associated with the worst prognosis not only in cardiovascular disease but also in non-cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to verify if cTn has a prognostic role in elderly and very elderly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

METHODS

This study enrolled consecutive COVID-19 elderly patients hospitalized at INRCA hospital, with available admission high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (HS-cTnT) level. Patients were divided into three groups based on HS-cTnT level: group A (Hs-cTnT ≤ 40 pg/ml), group B (Hs-cTnT 41-100 pg/ml), and group C (Hs-cTnT ≥ 101 pg/ml). The correlation between HS-cTnT levels and mortality rates was analyzed.

RESULTS

461 patients (mean age 86 years; 59% female) were divided into group A (261 patients), group B (129 patients), and group C (71 patients). Group C resulted significantly older, more affected by heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, and dementia, and with higher levels of creatinine, C-reactive protein, pro-calcitonin, interleukin-6, ferritin, NT-proBNP, D-dimer then group A and group B. Mortality rate increased significantly across groups (group A: 18.4%; group B: 36.4%; group C: 62.0%; p<0.001). Group C had a significant increase in mortality risk compared to group A, both univariate analysis (HR 3.78) and multivariate analysis (model 2 HR 3.10; model 3 HR 3.59; model 4 HR 1.72).

CONCLUSION

HS-cTnT has demonstrated a prognostic role in elderly and very elderly COVID-19 patients. HS-cTnT is a simple and inexpensive laboratory exam that gives clinicians important information on mortality risk stratification.