Impact and Determinants of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin-T Concentration in Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to Critical Care

Am J Cardiol. 2021 May 15:147:129-136. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.01.037. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Abstract

Cardiac Troponin (hs-TnT) elevation has been reported in unselected patients hospitalized with COVID-19 however the mechanism and relationship with mortality remain unclear. Consecutive patients admitted to a high-volume intensive care unit (ICU) in London with severe COVID-19 pneumonitis were included if hs-TnT concentration at admission was known. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis performed, with cohorts classified a priori by multiples of the upper limit of normal (ULN). 277 patients were admitted during a 7-week period in 2020; 176 were included (90% received invasive ventilation). hs-TnT at admission was 16.5 (9.0 to 49.3) ng/L, 56% had concentrations >ULN. 56 patients (31.8%) died during the index admission. Admission hs-TnT level was lower in survivors (12.0 (8.0-27.8) vs 28.5 (14.0 to 81.0) ng/L, p = 0.001). Univariate predictors of mortality were age, APACHE-II Score and admission hs-TnT (HR 1.73, p = 0.007). By multivariate regression, only age (HR 1.33, CI: 1.16.to 1.51, p < 0.01) and admission hs-TnT (HR 1.94, CI: 1.22 to 3.10, p = 0.006) remained predictive. Survival was significantly lower when admission hs-TnT was >ULN (log-rank p-value<0.001). Peak hs-TnT was higher in those who died but was not predictive of death after adjustment for other factors. In conclusion, in critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis, the hs-TnT level at admission is a powerful independent predictor of the likelihood of surviving to discharge from ICU. In most cases, hs-TnT elevation does not represent major myocardial injury but acts as a sensitive integrated biomarker of global stress. Whether stratification based on admission Troponin level could be used to guide prognostication and management warrants further evaluation.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Critical Care*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • London / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / blood*
  • Myocardial Infarction / epidemiology
  • Prognosis
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Troponin T / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Troponin T