Association of high-sensitivity assayed troponin I with cardiovascular phenotypes in the general population: the population-based Gutenberg health study

BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to analyze the correlation of high-sensitivity assayed troponin I with cardiac and vascular structure and function in a large population-based cohort.

METHODS: In a sample of 4,139 subjects (2,099 men, 2,040 women, age 35-74 years) from the population-based Gutenberg Health Study, troponin I was measured with a high-sensitivity assay that had a limit of detection of 1.9 pg/mL.

RESULTS: In the study cohort, 3,405 subjects had detectable troponin I concentrations [82.3% overall, 89.9% men (N = 1,888), 74.4% women (N = 1,517)]. All analyses were adjusted for age. The strongest correlate between detectable troponin I and measures of cardiac phenotypes was observed for left ventricular mass (p < 0.001) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (p < 0.001) for both, women and men. Left ventricular ejection fraction was inversely correlated with troponin I (p value <0.001 in men and 0.0013 in women), also measures of diastolic dysfunction as represented by Tei index and E/E' correlated with detectable troponin I concentrations (p < 0.001 for both gender). With respect to vascular structure and function, troponin I correlated with mean intima-media thickness of the carotid artery (p < 0.001 in men and p = 0.013 in women) but showed only borderline correlation with measures of vascular function represented by flow-mediated dilation (p = 0.05 in women and p = 0.018 in men) and arterial stiffness.

CONCLUSIONS: Troponin I assessed by a high-sensitivity assay correlated with measures of left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic and diastolic function, whereas its correlation with vascular phenotypes was only of weak magnitude.