Association between high-sensitive troponin I and coronary artery calcification in a Danish general population

• Published in: Atherosclerosis Vol. 245; pp. 88 - 93
• Main Authors: Olson, Fredrik, Engborg, Jonathan, Grønhøj, Mette H., Sand, Niels P., Lambrechtsen, Jess, Steffensen, Flemming H., Nybo, Mads, Gerke, Oke, Mickley, Hans, Diederichsen, Axel C.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Agatston score; Calcinosis - blood; Calcinosis - diagnosis; Calcinosis - epidemiology; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular risk; Coronary Angiography - methods; Coronary artery calcification; Coronary artery disease; Coronary Artery Disease - blood; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Artery Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; DanRisk; Denmark - epidemiology; Female; General population; High-sensitive troponin I; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; ROC Curve; Survival Rate - trends; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Troponin I - blood; DanRisk; Cardiovascular risk; Coronary artery calcification; General population; Agatston score; Coronary artery disease; High-sensitive troponin I
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.12.017
• ISSN: 0021-9150

High-sensitive troponin I (hs-TnI) is an individual predictor of future cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between hs-TnI and coronary artery calcification (CAC) as determined by computed tomography (CT) has not previously been investigated in a general population. 1173 randomized, middle-aged subjects without known CVD underwent a non-contrast cardiac-CT scan for CAC determination. Hs-TnI was detected using ARCHITECT STAT High Sensitive Troponin-I immunoassay. Total 10-year cardiovascular mortality risk was estimated using HeartScore. The relationship between hs-TnI and CAC was assessed using logistic regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). Concentrations of hs-TnI above the limit of detection were measured in 89.3% of all subjects. Presence of CAC (Agatston score >0) was detected in 29% in the lowest hs-TnI quartile compared with 55% in the highest, with a stepwise increase over the quartiles. In fully adjusted regression models with dichotomous CAC outcomes, hs-TnI was able to predict presence of CAC (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03–1.51, p = 0.025) and an Agatston score >100 (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.08–1.71, p = 0.009). Subjects in the fourth hs-TnI quartile had an increased risk for presence of CAC (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.06–2.26, p = 0.024) and for an Agatston score >100 (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.04–3.18, p = 0.035), when compared with the first quartile. Addition of hs-TnI to HeartScore improved the ROCAUC from 0.671 to 0.695 (p < 0.0001). Hs-TnI was associated with CAC in a Danish middle-aged population without previously known CVD. This is a step towards understanding hs-TnI as a risk marker for CVD. •Hs-TnI and CAC are powerful predictors of CVD and death.•Hs-TnI and CAC was studied in a random selection of 1173 subjects from the general population.•There was a significant association between hs-TnI and CAC.•This is a step towards understanding hs-TnI as a predictor future CVD.