High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and N-terminal b-type natriuretic propeptide are associated with cardiac and all-cause mortality in older adults - A population-based ten-year follow-up study

Elisa Heikkilä; Taina Katajamäki; Marika Salminen; Kerttu Irjala; Anna Viljanen; Marja-Kaisa Koivula; Kari Pulkki; Matti Viitanen; Tero Vahlberg; Laura Viikari

doi:10.1016/j.cca.2024.120116

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and N-terminal b-type natriuretic propeptide are associated with cardiac and all-cause mortality in older adults - A population-based ten-year follow-up study

Clin Chim Acta. 2024 Dec 26:567:120116. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.120116. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Southwest Finland Wellbeing Services County, Turku University Hospital, Laboratory Division, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: etmhei@utu.fi.
² Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Southwest Finland Wellbeing Services County, Turku University Hospital, Laboratory Division, Turku, Finland.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Practice, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Southwest Finland Wellbeing Services County, Turku University Hospital Services, Geriatric Medicine, 20521 Turku, Finland.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
⁵ The wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland, Academic health and social services centre, Postgraduate educational team in general practice, Turku, Finland; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Geriatric Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20700 Turku, Finland.
⁶ HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Geriatric Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20700 Turku, Finland.
⁸ Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
⁹ Southwest Finland Wellbeing Services County, Turku University Hospital Services, Geriatric Medicine, 20521 Turku, Finland; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Unit of Geriatric Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20700 Turku, Finland.

PMID: 39732415
DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.120116

Abstract

Background: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N-terminal B-type natriuretic propeptide (proBNP) are mainly used as biomarkers to diagnose specific conditions of the heart, but they also have predictive ability. Our aim was to study their associations with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in an older population in non-acute conditions.

Methods: A population-based study with a ten-year follow-up. The data comes from a community-based representative sample of an older population with 1260 participants (participation rate 82 %). Associations were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results: Altogether, 467 (37%) subjects died during the 10-year follow-up period, and 149 of those of a cardiovascular disease. Both elevated cTnT and proBNP concentrations were statistically significantly associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in older adults.

Conclusions: Our study shows that older population with higher cTnT and proBNP concentrations have an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Acknowledging the elevated risk may aid in targeting follow-up, prevention, and treatment adequately and more individually.

Keywords: Cardiac biomarkers; Elderly; Mortality; Natriuretic peptide; Troponin.