High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T levels in prehypertensive patients

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTNT) is an important non-invasive laboratory-based marker of subclinical myocardial injury. Prehypertension, which may be a precursor of hypertension, is a major public health issue. Our aim was to evaluate the importance of serum hs-cTnT as a marker predicting prehypertension.Methods: A total of 100 subjects (45 women and 55 men) consisting of 50 consecutive prehypertensive patients with blood pressures between 120/80 and 139/89mmHg and 50 normotensive patients with blood pressures < 120/80mmHg were enrolled prospectively. The hs-cTNT level was calculated and compared between the two groups. Echocardiographic examinations were performed in all patients.Results: The hs-cTnT level was significantly higher in the prehypertensive group (p<0.001) and was positively correlated with prehypertension (r=0.625, p<0.001). Hs-cTnT was an independent predictor of prehypertension (odds ratio=1.043, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.019-1.067, p<0.001). An Hs-cTnT level of 0.55 ng/L was predictive of prehypertension with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 60% (area under the curve=0.861; 95% CI, 0.787-0.935; p<0.001).Conclusion: hs-cTnT may complement other diagnostic biomarkers in predicting prehypertension.Abbrevations: high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, prehypertension, subclinical myocardial injury