title: Quantitative troponin elevation does not provide incremental prognostic value beyond comprehensive risk stratification in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative cardiac troponin (cTn) assessment can improve risk stratification in a spectrum of patients with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndrome (ACS) using the validated Global Registry of Acute Cardiac Events (GRACE) risk model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Canadian ACS Registry II is a prospective, multicenter study that enrolled patients admitted to hospital with a suspected NSTE ACS within 24 hours of symptom onset. Of the total 2297 patients, those with elevated cTn (n = 1013) were further stratified into tertiles of cTn ranges. Our primary end point was death and our secondary end point was a composite of death or/and recurrent myocardial infarction at 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariable analysis adjusting for validated predictors of death confirmed the independent prognostic value of any abnormal cTn (vs normal) for death (adjusted odds ratio 2.28, 95% CI 1.49-3.49, P < .001) and for the composite outcome (adjusted odds ratio 2.18, 95% CI 1.61-2.95, P < .001) at 1 year. With quantitative assessment, the gradient of mortality risk with increasing cTn level was not evident after adjusting for other prognosticators. Quantitative (compared to qualitative) assessment of cTn level did not improve either the GRACE risk model discrimination for 1-year death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Any cTn elevation is associated with higher rate of death at 1 year, but its quantitative assessment did not prove as important as its mere presence as an independent long-term prognosticator in a nonclinical trial, "real-world" NSTE ACS population.
authors: Terrence Donnelly Heart Centre, Division of Cardiology, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Ki-Dong
authors: KD
authors: Lim
authors: Andrew T
authors: AT
authors: Yan
authors: Amparo
authors: A
authors: Casanova
authors: Raymond T
authors: RT
authors: Yan
authors: Aurora
authors: A
authors: Mendelsohn
authors: Sanjit
authors: S
authors: Jolly
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Fitchett
authors: Anatoly
authors: A
authors: Langer
authors: Shaun G
authors: SG
authors: Goodman
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D019370:Observation; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D019209:Troponin C / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019209:Troponin C