Cardiac Troponin as a Prognostic Indicator for Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Non-Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review.

A major adverse cardiac event (MACE) following non-cardiac surgery encompasses critical postoperative cardiovascular complications such as myocardial infarction or injury, cardiac arrest, or stroke that are associated with increased perioperative morbidity, mortality, and healthcare resource utilisation. Cardiac troponin (cTn), particularly high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn), has emerged as a key biomarker for prediction of MACE. Despite its recognised utility, there is no consensus on how cTn levels should be used for standardised postoperative surveillance. Interpretation of the cTn levels may vary depending on sex-specific reference values and baseline comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease, sepsis, critical illness, and non-ischaemic conditions. The balance between cost-effectiveness and clinical benefit in implementing universal versus targeted postoperative hs-cTn screening remains to be fully explored. This review examines the prognostic value of cardiac troponin (cTn) levels in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, with a focus on perioperative cTn elevations-particularly those associated with myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS)-as potential early indicators of increased cardiovascular risk.