Association between cardiac troponin I and mortality in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Background

Severe pneumonia is pathological manifestation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), however complications have been reported in COVID-19 patients with a worst prognosis. Aim of this study was to evaluate the role of high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-TnI) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

we retrospectively analysed hs-TnI values measured in 523 patients (median age 64 years, 68% men) admitted to a university hospital in Milan, Italy, and diagnosed COVID-19.

Results

A significant difference in hs-TnI concentrations was found between deceased patients (98 patients) vs discharged (425 patients) [36.05 ng/L IQR 16.5–94.9 vs 6.3 ng/L IQR 2.6–13.9, p < 0.001 respectively]. Hs-TnI measurements were independent predictors of mortality at multivariate analysis adjusted for confounding parameters such as age (HR 1.004 for each 10 point of troponin, 95% CI 1.002–1.006, p < 0.001). The survival rate, after one week, in patients with hs-TnI values under 6 ng/L was 97.94%, between 6 ng/L and the normal value was 90.87%, between the normal value and 40 ng/L was 86.98, and 59.27% over 40 ng/L.

Conclusion

Increase of hs-TnI associated with elevated mortality in patients with COVID-19. Troponin shows to be a useful biomarker of disease progression and worse prognosis in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• mortality
• cardiac troponin
• serially measurements of hs-TnI
• hospitalization

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge all medical team for their clinical activities in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. The authors thank the staff of the laboratory for assistance through test performance and data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).