Can Cardiac Troponin Risk-Stratify Patients with Known Coronary Artery Disease?

We use troponin every day in the acute-care setting to identify patients with myocardial injury, but does it also have utility in risk stratification for people not suspected of having an acute coronary syndrome? Prior studies indicate that high-sensitivity cardiac troponin levels have prognostic value for people with asymptomatic coronary artery disease or a history of acute coronary syndrome. However, the value for people with stable angina and known coronary artery disease is not known.

This prospective cohort study sought to evaluate the prognostic importance of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels for people with chronic coronary artery disease. The investigators enrolled 4240 consecutive patients referred for coronary a…