Impact of atrial fibrillation on levels of high-sensitivity troponin I in a 75-year-old population

Abstract

Purpose. Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with elevated levels of cardiac troponins; however, it is not clear if this association is independent of underlying cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of AF on cardiac troponin I levels in a 75-year-old cohort from the general population, using a recently introduced, highly sensitive assay. Methods. All 75-year-old citizens in Asker and Baerum counties were invited to participate in a prevalence study of AF. High-sensitive troponin I (hs-TnI) levels were measured (Abbott Diagnostics) in serum samples collected from 62 subjects with AF and a gender-matched control group of 126 subjects in sinus rhythm. Results. Hs-TnI was detectable in all subjects (median 7.3 ng/L [range 3.0–88.7]). Patients with AF had higher levels than subjects in sinus rhythm (8.3 ng/L [3.7–88.7] vs. 6.8 ng/L [3.0–77.5]; p = 0.011). Male gender (p = 0.002), hypertension (p = 0.001), coronary heart disease (p < 0.001), heart failure (p < 0.001), prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (p = 0.013) and serum creatinine (p < 0.001) were all associated with higher levels of hs-TnI in univariate analysis. Heart failure and coronary heart disease remained significantly associated with hs-TnI in multivariate analysis, whereas the relation between AF and hs-TnI was no longer statistically significant. Conclusion. All subjects had detectable levels of hs-TnI. AF patients had higher hs-TnI levels than subjects in sinus rhythm; however, this difference was not statistically significant after adjustment for heart failure and coronary heart disease.

Key Words::

• Biomarkers
• cardiac arrhythmia
• cardiology
• cardiovascular diseases
• cohort studies
• immunoassays

Grant support

This study was sponsored by the Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Norway. The original Asker and Baerum Atrial Fibrillation study was supported by AstraZeneca, Oslo, Norway.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.