Prognostic value of postoperative high-sensitivity troponin T in patients with different stages of kidney disease undergoing noncardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence suggests that postoperative troponin release is a strong and independent predictor of short-term mortality. However, evaluating elevated troponins in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is still controversial and is often disregarded. This study examines morbidity along with short- and long-term mortality risk associated with elevated high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) in patients with different stages CKD undergoing noncardiac surgery.

METHODS

This observational cohort comprised 3262 patients aged ≥60 yr who underwent noncardiac surgery. Postoperative hsTnT concentrations were divided into normal [<14 ng l (reference)], low (14-49 ng l), moderate (50-149 ng l), and high (≥150 ng l) groups. A threshold of 50 ng l was used to dichotomize hsTnT. The study endpoints were 30-day and long-term all-cause mortality, and postoperative myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

Postoperative hsTnT was associated with a stepwise increase in 30-day and long-term mortality risk: low hsTnT adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-1.7], moderate hsTnT adjusted HR 3.1 (95% CI: 2.3-4.3), high hsTnT adjusted HR 5.5 (95% CI: 3.6-8.4). Postoperative hsTnT ≥50 ng l was associated with 30-day and long-term mortality risk for each stage of CKD. Elevated troponin concentrations in severe CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL min 1.73 m), however, did not predict short-term death.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated postoperative hsTnT is associated with a dose-dependent increase in 30-day and long-term mortality risk in each stage of CKD with an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥30 ml min 1.73 m.