Association between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in a community based population

Background N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T(hs-cTnT) are excellent biomarkers for detecting heart failure and subclinical myocardial injury. However, it remains unclear whether subclinical myocardial injury is associated with NT-proBNP elevation in a community based population.Methods In a community based study, levels of hs-cTnT and of NT-proBNP were determined in 1 497 participants older than 45 years. The lower detection limit of the hs-cTnT assay used in the present study was 0.003 ng/ml. The association of hs-cTnT levels and NT-proBNP levels was analyzed.Results When the subjects with undetectable(<0.003 ng/ml), intermediate(0.003–0.014 ng/ml), and elevated(≥0.014 ng/ml) levels of hs-cTnT were compared(r=0.175, P <0.001), a strong association between the hs-cTnT levels and NTproBNP levels was observed(β=–0.206, P <0.001; β=–0.118, P <0.001, respectively). In multivariable analyses, older age and hs-cTnT were positively and independently associated with NT-proBNP levels(β=0.341, P <0.001; β=0.143, P <0.001, respectively), and male gender and the levels of eGFR were inversely and independently associated with NT-proBNP levels. When the subjects with normal or elevated NT-proBNP were analyzed separately, the hs-cTnT level was not an independent predictor for the NT-proBNP level in the normal NT-proBNP group, whereas the hs-cTnT level was the only independent predictor for NT-proBNP level in the elevated NT-proBNP group(β=0.399, P <0.01).Conclusions In this community based population, NT-proBNP elevation was common. In addition to female gender and older age, subclinical myocardial injury indicated by the hs-cTnT level was another important factor in NT-proBNP elevation.