The Role of Troponin Measured on Admission to the Emergency Department in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke to Predict Stroke Severity and Neurological Outcome

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of cardiac troponin levels measured at admission to the emergency department (ED) for stroke severity assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and neurological outcomes determined by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores in patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Materials and Methods: Patients presenting to ED with a diagnosis of AIS confirmed by neuroimaging findings were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on troponin-I levels: elevated and normal. NIHSS during admission, 30-day all-cause mortality data, and 30-day mRS were examined. In comparisons between groups, categorical variables were evaluated with Chi-square and continuous variables were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney-U test. To determine the prognostic value of troponin with poor outcomes in stroke patients, diagnostic 2x2 tables were made. Results: The study was conducted with 200 patients. Troponin elevation was detected in 37, and mortality was significantly higher in this group. The sensitivity of troponin to predict mortality was 88.89%, and PLR (positive likelihood ratio) was 5.85 (3.89–8.79). The 30-day mRS scores were significantly higher in the elevated troponin group. NIHSS scores didn’t show a significant difference between groups. Conclusions: Troponin levels assessed at admission in AIS patients may be a prognostic marker for mortality and adverse neurological outcomes.