Abstract MP33: Association of Cardiac Troponin T and Troponin I With Peripheral Neuropathy in Older Adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Abstract

Introduction: There is growing evidence that high sensitivity troponin I (hs-cTnI) and high sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) are associated with distinct clinical characteristics and perform differently for cardiovascular risk stratification. The comparative associations of hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT with microvascular complications, such as peripheral neuropathy (PN), have not been quantified. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2,974 black and white participants in the ARIC study who underwent monofilament PN testing at visit 6 (2016-2017, age 71-94 years). Hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT were measured in serum and categorized according to population tertiles. We used logistic regression to assess the associations of hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT with PN among adults with and without diabetes after adjusting for traditional risk factors. Results: Overall, 38% of participants had evidence of PN. Median hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT levels were 3.3ng/L (IQR 2.2-5.2) and 11.0ng/L (8.0-16.0) for participants with PN and 2.6ng/L (1.8-4.0) and 8.0ng/L (6.0-12.0) for participants without PN, respectively. Only hs-cTnT was significantly associated with PN after adjusting for traditional risk factors ( Figure, panel A ) and after mutually adjusting for both troponin measurements ( Figure, panel B ). The association of hs-cTnT with PN was similar for adults with and without diabetes (P=0.62 for interaction). Conclusions: PN was common among older adults with and without diabetes. Hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT had distinct associations with PN, with a more robust association for hs-cTnT. These findings add to the growing body of knowledge regarding differences in the use of high sensitivity troponin assays for monitoring risk in the general population.