Management and outcomes with 5-year mortality of patients with mildly elevated high-sensitivity troponin T levels not meeting criteria for myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: To examine management and outcomes of patients presenting to EDs with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome, who have mild non-dynamically elevated high-sensitivity troponin T (HsTnT) levels, not meeting the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (MI) criteria (observation group). METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting to the ED with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia, those having ≥2 HsTnT levels after initial assessment were adjudicated according to the fourth universal definition of MI, as MI ruled-in, MI ruled-out, or myocardial injury in whom MI is neither ruled-in nor ruled-out (>1 level ≥15 ng/L, called observation group); follow-up was 5 years. RESULTS: Of 2738 patients, 547 were in the observation group, of whom 62% were admitted to hospital, 52% to cardiac services, whereas 97% of MI ruled-in patients and 21% of MI ruled-out patients were admitted; P < 0.001. Non-invasive testing occurred in 42% of observation group patients (36% had echo-cardiography), and 16% had coronary angiography. Of observation group patients, MI rates were 1.5% during hospitalisation and 4% during the following year, similar to that in those with MI ruled-in, among those with MI ruled-out, the MI rate was 0.2%. The 1-year death rate was 13% among observation group patients and 11% MI ruled-in patients (P = 0.624), whereas at 5 years among observation group patients, type 1 MI and type 2 MI were 48%, 26% and 58%, respectively (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Very few unselected consecutive patients attending ED, with minor stable HsTnT elevation, had MI, although most had chronic myocardial injury. Late mortality rates among observation group patients were higher than those with confirmed type 1 MI but lower than those with type 2 MI.

Prognostic Implications of High-Sensitivity Troponin T Levels Among Patients Attending Emergency Departments and Evaluated for an Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: With increasing age, patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and elevated high-sensitivity troponin T (HsTnT) levels, type-1 myocardial infarction (MI) is diagnosed less often, though associations among these factors, gender, and prognosis is unclear. METHODS: Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with potential ACS who underwent HsTnT testing were prospectively identified and followed. Diagnoses were adjudicated according to the Fourth Universal Definition of MI as follows: type-1 MI, type-2 MI, acute myocardial injury, chronic myocardial injury, and other diagnoses. Age in years was categorized: younger (<65); elderly (65-79), and very elderly (≥80). RESULTS: Among 2738 patients with HsTnT measurements, 1611 were suitable for adjudication (42% ages 65 years and younger). Type-2 MI and chronic myocardial injury diagnoses were more common in those ages 65 years and older, whereas younger patients had more type-1 MI diagnoses. Late mortality rates at median 41 months (interquartile range [IQR] 10-57) were 44% (223 out of 506) in those ages 80 years and older, 22% (92 out of 423) in patients 65-79 years, and 7% (46 out of 682) in those 65 years and younger, irrespective of adjudicated diagnoses, log rank P ≤ .001. On multivariable analyses, the adjusted mortality hazard ratios for increasing HsTnT levels irrespective of diagnoses were attenuated in those age 80 years and older compared to younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients ages 65 years and older constituted ~60% of ED attendances of patients with suspected ACS, and more had type 2 MI and chronic myocardial injury diagnoses compared to younger patients. The relative mortality impact of HsTnT levels was lower among elderly patients irrespective of adjudicated diagnoses.

Mortality at 5 Years Among Very Elderly Patients Undergoing High Sensitivity Troponin T Testing for Suspected Acute Coronary Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Patients aged ≥80 years old often present to Emergency Departments (ED) with symptoms potentially due to an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to evaluate associations between baseline level(s) of high sensitivity troponin T (HsTnT), adjudicated diagnoses and outcomes. METHODS: Consecutive patients aged ≥80 years were studied, who presented to the ED at Liverpool Hospital, NSW, Australia during the 4 months period March to June 2014 (inclusive) with symptoms suggestive of an ACS, and who had at least one HsTnT assay performed. Diagnoses were based on the fourth universal definition of MI (myocardial infarction) including type-1 MI, type-2 MI, acute myocardial injury, chronic myocardial injury; the rest were termed "other diagnoses". Patients were categorised by baseline HsTnT levels 1) ≤14 ng/L, 2) 15-29 ng/L, 3) 30-49 ng/L and 4) ≥50 ng/L. RESULTS: Of 2,773 patients screened, 545 were aged ≥80 years (median age 85 [IQR 82-88]); median follow-up was 32 months (IQR 5-56). The respective rates of adjudicated diagnoses were type-I MI 3.1%, type-2 MI 13%, acute myocardial injury 9.5%, chronic myocardial injury 56% and 18.6% had other diagnoses. Mortality rates increased, irrespective of adjudicated diagnoses with increasing HsTnT levels (ng/L): 17% (16/96) for ≤14; 35% (67/194) for 15-29; 51% (65/127) for 30-49; and 64% (82/128) for ≥50 ng/L; log rank p≤0.001. On multi-variable analyses, after adjusting for potential confounding factors including age, hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), MI type was not associated with late mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients aged ≥80 years higher HsTnT levels, irrespective of adjudicated diagnoses, were associated with increased mortality. Most very elderly patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of an ACS undergoing HsTnT testing in EDs had elevated levels most commonly due to chronic myocardial injury. Whether any interventions can modify outcomes require prospective evaluation.

Type-II myocardial infarction and chronic myocardial injury rates, invasive management, and 4-year mortality among consecutive patients undergoing high-sensitivity troponin T testing in the emergency department.

AIMS: As assessment of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in emergency departments (EDs) represents a major workload because high-sensitivity troponin (HsTn) T and I levels are frequently measured, and a minority of patients have final diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI). We determined the relative frequencies of three patients groups: Type-I MI, Type-II MI (including acute myocardial injury). METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 2738 consecutive patients with suspected ACS presenting to ED at Liverpool Hospital, Australia, between March and June 2014. We studied the use of invasive and pharmacological therapies, and 4-year outcomes. Adjudication of MI was according to the 4th universal definition as follows: (i) Type-I MI; (ii) Type-II MI (including acute myocardial injury), and (iii) chronic myocardial injury. Of 995 patients (36%) [median age 76 years (interquartile range 65-83)] with ≥2 HsTnT measurements and one >14 ng/L, 727 (73%) had chronic myocardial injury, 171 (17%) had Type-II MI, and 97 (9.7%) had Type-I MI; respective late mortality rates to 48 months were 33%, 43%, and 14% (P < 0.001). In-hospital angiography rates were 95% for patients with Type-I MI, [62% had percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)] 24% (7% PCI) for those with Type-II MI, and 3.4% for chronic myocardial injury. On Cox modelling for mortality relative to Type 1 MI, adjusted hazard ratios were 1.94 [95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.06-3.57]; P = 0.032 for Type 2 MI, and for chronic myocardial injury 1.14 (95% CIs 0.64-2.02); P = 0.66. CONCLUSION: Among unselected patients undergoing HsTnT testing in EDs, Type-II MI including acute myocardial injury was more common than Type-I MI. Chronic myocardial injury, which occurred in three of four patients. Whereas patients with Type-II MI had higher late mortality than those with Type-I MI, after multivariable analyses mortality rates were marginally different.

Suspected ACS Patients Presenting With Myocardial Damage or a Type 2 Myocardial Infarction Have a Similar Late Mortality to Patients With a Type 1 Myocardial Infarction: A Report From the Australian and New Zealand 2012 SNAPSHOT ACS Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin (T and I) are considered the standard markers for detection of myocardial damage and the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among patients who present to an emergency department with chest pain. However, these markers can be released in other situations and may be associated with short- and long-term clinical outcomes. In this study, we examine late mortality rates among patients presenting with a suspected ACS due to an unstable coronary plaque and those patients having a non-ACS. METHODS: 4388 patients were hospitalised with suspected ACS, between 14 and 27 May 2012 in the Australia and New Zealand SNAPSHOT ACS study. Those patients were categorised in five diagnostic groups: 1) ST elevation MI (n=419); 2) non-ST elevation MI (n=1012); 3) unstable angina (n=925); 4) non-ACS diagnoses (n=837); and 5) chest pain considered unlikely ischaemic (not otherwise specified, n=1195). RESULT: The respective mortality rates at 18 months in these groups were 16.2%, 16.3%, 6.8%, 12.8%, and 4.8%; Pearson χ2=110 p<0.001. Among non-ACS diagnoses patients (group 4) those with the highest mortality rates (cardiac (14.4%), respiratory (18.2%), sepsis (15.4%) and neoplastic (67%) diagnoses) had the highest rates of elevated troponin levels (48%, 31%, 38% and 67% respectively). By contrast, those with the lowest mortality rates (musculoskeletal (2.9%), gastrointestinal disorders (3.9%) and non-specific chest pain (7.4%)) had the lowest rate of elevated troponin levels (9%, 18% and 15.8% respectively). However, after adjusting for baseline clinical and demographic characteristics, the mortality rate at 18 months for patients with elevated troponin was similar for ACS or non-ACS diagnoses (Hazard Ratio, 95% C.I.0.98-1.07, p=0.333). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients in the 2012 SNAPSHOT ACS study, non-ACS diagnoses characterised by high rates of elevated troponin levels had high mortality rates similar to those diagnosed with ACS. Therapies known to be effective in ACS patients, including early invasive management, should be examined in these non-ACS patients with troponin elevations within adequately powered randomised trials.