Moderate elevations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide in chronic hemodialysis patients are associated with mortality

BACKGROUND: Several biomarkers are associated with mortality in hemodialysis patients. In particular, elevated cardiac troponin T and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are strong predictors of mortality; however, less is known about cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Elevated troponin I is detected in many hemodialysis patients, but the association of moderate elevations with mortality is unclear. METHODS: The relation between mortality and cTnI, using a high-sensitivity cTnI assay, as well as BNP and C-reactive protein (CRP) was evaluated in 206 chronic hemodialysis patients. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 28 months with a total mortality of 35%. Mortality was significantly associated with elevated cTnI, BNP and CRP. Even patients with only moderate elevation of cTnI (0.01-0.10 µg/L) showed 2.5-fold increased mortality. Interestingly, hazard ratios for mortality for single (random) measurements were comparable to those for mean/median measurements. Subsequently, subgroup analysis based on combined markers was performed. Patients with both cTnI