The Prognostic Value of Cardiac Troponin I in Acute Exacerbation Phase of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Troponin is a specific marker for myocardial necrotic injury. Troponin elevations can also occur in other diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may be useful to predict mortality. The purpose of the present study was to assess the association between circulating cTnI and prognosis among patients with COPD exacerbation without the overt cardiovascular disease. Methods: In descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study 180 patients admitted to Imam Khomeini hospital with acute exacerbation of COPD were included and cTnI was assayed. Demographic data, clinical symptoms and signs, arterial blood gas, electrocardiogram/ echocardiography, spirometry, hospitalization ward, length of hospital stay and patient’s status including discharge or death were recorded. Results: Among 180 patients, 135 (75%) were men and 45 (25%) were women. Cardiac troponin I was negative in 117 (65%) patients and positive in 63 (35%) patients. The median survival rate was 16±2.80 and 16±4.12 days for troponin positive and negative patients respectively, indicating no significant relationship between survival and the positive or negative of cardiac troponin I. Conclusion: cTnI can be used as a marker to identify high-risk patients during acute exacerbation of COPD.