Association between blood glucose levels and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T in an overt cardiovascular disease-free community-based study

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the relationship between blood glucose levels and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in an overt cardiovascular disease-free community-based study.

Methods: Cardiac troponin T levels were measured using a highly sensitive assay in 1365 individuals, aged 45 years or older, without overt cardiovascular disease in a community-based, cross-sectional study, in Beijing, China. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements, biochemical analysis and an oral glucose tolerance test.

Results: Both the prevalence of detectable hs-cTnT (≥3.0 pg/mL) and elevated hs-cTnT (≥13.3 pg/mL) were significantly higher in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) than in patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), and those with impaired glucose regulation (IGR). After adjustment for multiple factors, the prevalence of detectable hs-cTnT (adjusted OR=1.22) and elevated hs-cTnT (adjusted OR=1.29) in the DM group were still significantly higher than in the NGT group. hs-cTnT was related to multiple risk factors for cardiovascular events, and fasting blood glucose level was an independent predictor of hs-cTnT.

Conclusions: hs-cTnT showed a varied distribution in a community-based population with different blood glucose levels. Both the prevalence of detectable hs-cTnT and elevated hs-cTnT were increased significantly in the diabetic population. hs-cTnT was related to multiple risk factors for cardiovascular events, and fasting blood glucose level was an independent predictor of hs-cTnT.