Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Stratification Based on Measurements of Troponin and Coronary Artery Calcium

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jul 28;76(4):357-370. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.05.057.

Abstract

Background: Low values of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores of zero are associated with a low risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate baseline hs-cTnT and CAC in relation to ASCVD.

Methods: Baseline hs-cTnT (limit of detection [LoD] 3 ng/l) and CAC measurements were analyzed across participants age 45 to 84 years without clinical cardiovascular disease from the prospective MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) in relationship to incident ASCVD.

Results: Among 6,749 participants, 1,002 ASCVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 15 years. Participants with detectable CAC (20.1 vs. 5.0 events per 1,000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0 to 2.76; p < 0.001) and detectable hs-cTnT (15.4 vs. 5.2 per 1,000 person-years; adjusted HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.77; p < 0.001) had higher rates of ASCVD than those with undetectable results. Individuals with undetectable hs-cTnT (32%) had similar risk for ASCVD as did those with a CAC of zero (50%) (5.2 vs. 5.0 per 1,000 person-years). Together, hs-cTnT and CAC (discordance 38%) resulted in the following ASCVD event rates: hs-cTnT < LoD/CAC = 0: 2.8 per 1,000 person-years (reference), hs-cTnT ≥ LoD/CAC = 0: 6.8 per 1,000 person-years (HR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.16; p = 0.003), hs-cTnT < LoD/CAC > 0: 11.1 per 1,000 person-years (HR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.96 to 3.83; p < 0.00001), and hs-cTnT ≥ LoD/CAC > 0: 22.6 per 1,000 person-years (HR: 3.50; 95% CI: 2.60 to 4.70; p < 0.00001).

Conclusions: An undetectable hs-cTnT identifies patients with a similar, low risk for ASCVD as those with a CAC score of zero. The increased risk among those with discordant results supports their conjoined use for risk prediction.

Keywords: atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; coronary artery calcium; high-sensitivity cardiac troponin; primary prevention; risk stratification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Calcium / analysis*
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / diagnosis
  • Coronary Artery Disease* / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Primary Prevention / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Troponin / analysis*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vascular Calcification* / blood
  • Vascular Calcification* / diagnosis

Substances

  • Troponin
  • Calcium