Correlation between cardiac structure, function and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and in elderly inpatients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between cardiac structure, function and high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in elderly hospitalized patients. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 343 non- acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients aged 65 years and older were enrolled from May 2014 to May 2015, including 251 males and 92 females with a mean age of 82.1 ± 6.5 years old.Blood hs-cTnT concentrations was tested and echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricular end dilated diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left atrium diameter (LAD), interventricular septal (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall diameter (LVPWD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). The correlation between hs-cTnT level and cardiac parameters was analyzed. Results In 343 elderly patients, hs-cTnT was detected in 335 cases (97.66%). The median hs-cTnT levels was 0.013 (0.008, 0.020) ng/ml ranging from 0.003 ng/ml to 0.109 ng/ml.The patients were divided into low group (≤0.009 ng/ml), middle group (0.010-0.017 ng/ml) and high group (≥0.018 ng/ml) based on hs-cTnT levels.Compared with the low group or middle group, LAD, LVESD, and LVMI were increased and LVEF was decreased in the high group (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that hs-cTnT levels were positively correlated with LVPWD, LVMI, LVEDS and LAD, and negatively correlated with EF value (all P<0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed hs-cTnT level was independently related to LVMI and LVEF. Conclusions The level of hs-cTnT was positively correlated with LVMI and LAD, and negatively correlated with LVEF in elderly hospitalized patients with non-ACS.Elevated hs-cTnT level may be associated with cardiac structure and dysfunction.It is necessary to carefully interpret hs-cTnT in diagnosis of ACS of elderly patients. Key words: Non acute coronary syndrome; High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T; Elderly patients; Echocardiography