Association of Glomerular Filtration Rate with High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T in a Community-Based Population Study in Beijing

Background: Reduced renal function is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease mortality, and persistently elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is frequently observed in patients with end-stage renal disease. In the general population the relationship between renal function and cTnT levels may not be clear because of the low sensitivity of the assay. In this study, we investigated the level of cTnT using a highly sensitive assay (hs-cTnT) and evaluated the association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with detectable hs-cTnT levels in a community-based population. Methods: The serum hs-cTnT levels were measured in 1365 community dwelling population aged >= 45 years in Beijing, China. eGFR was determined by the Chinese modifying modification of diet in renal disease (C-MDRD) equation. Results: With the highly sensitive assay, cTnT levels were detectable (>= 3pg/mL) in 744 subjects (54.5%). The result showed that eGFR was associated with Log hs-cTnT (r = 20.14, P<0.001). After adjustment for the high predicted Framingham Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk (10-year risk >20%) and other prognostic indicators, moderate to severe reduced eGFR was independently associated with detectable hs-cTnT, whereas normal to mildly reduced eGFR was not independently associated with detectable hs-cTnT. In addition, after adjustment for other risk factors, the high predicted Framingham CHD risk was associated with detectable hs-cTnT in the subjects with different quartile levels of eGFR. Conclusion: The levels of hs-cTnT are detectable in a community-based Chinese population and low eGFR is associated with detectable hs-cTnT. Moreover, eGFR and high predicted Framingham CHD risk are associated with detectable hs-cTnT in subjects with moderate-to-severe reduced renal function.