title: Determinants and prognostic implications of cardiac troponin T measured by a sensitive assay in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cardiac troponins are biomarkers used for diagnosis of myocardial injury. They are also powerful prognostic markers in many diseases and settings. Recently introduced high-sensitivity assays indicate that chronic cardiac troponin elevations are common in response to cardiovascular (CV) morbidity. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) confers a high risk of CV disease, but little is known about chronic cardiac troponin elevations in diabetic subjects. Accordingly, we aimed to understand the prevalence, determinants, and prognostic implications of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevations measured with a high-sensitivity assay in patients with T2DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  cTnT was measured in stored, frozen serum samples from 124 subjects enrolled in the Asker and Bærum Cardiovascular Diabetes trial at baseline and at 2-year follow-up, if available (96 samples available). Results were analyzed in relation to baseline variables, hospitalizations, and group assignment (multifactorial intensive versus conventional diabetes care for lowering CV risk).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred thirteen (90%) had detectable cTnT at baseline and of those, 22 (18% of the total population) subjects had values above the 99th percentile for healthy controls (13.5 ng/L). Levels at baseline were associated with conventional CV risk factors (age, renal function, gender). There was a strong correlation between cTnT levels at the two time-points (r=0.92, p>0.001). Risk for hospitalizations during follow-up increased step-wise by quartiles of hscTnT measured at baseline (p=0.058).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevations of cTnT above the 99th percentile measured by a highly sensitive assay were encountered frequently in a population of T2DM patients. cTnT levels appeared to be stable over time and associated with conventional CV risk factors. Although a clear trend was present, no statistically robust associations with adverse outcomes could be found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. jonashallen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallén
authors.forename: Odd Erik
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Kåre I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Birkeland
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gullestad
authors.forename: Svend
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aakhus
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Endresen
authors.forename: Solve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tjora
authors.forename: Allan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020107:Troponin T / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020107:Troponin T