Aims Cardiac troponins are measured in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and other conditions. The authors investigate the prognostic significance of cardiac troponin T (TnT) test and comorbid medical conditions.

Methods Consecutive patients admitted to the Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, between 2 January 2004 and 29 February 2004 who had TnT measurement were included. Patients were separated into normal (<0.01 μg/l) or raised TnT levels (≥0.01 μg/l), and further categorised into: (1) normal TnT with unstable angina; (2) normal TnT with non-ACS; (3) raised TnT with ACS; and (4) raised TnT with non-ACS. Cox regression was used to identify prognostic variables, and logrank test to compare 7-year survival.

Results Of 1021 patients, 313 had raised TnT (195 ACS, 118 non-ACS) and 708 normal TnT (80 ACS, 628 non-ACS). Age (HR 1.06; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.07), congestive cardiac failure (HR 1.37; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.69), cerebrovascular disease (HR 1.37; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.71), chronic obstructive airway disease (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.75), liver disease (HR 4.16; 95% CI 2.37 to 7.31), renal disease (HR 1.83; 95% CI 1.27 to 2.64), tumour (HR 1.39; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.79), lymphoma (HR 4.81; 95% CI 2.07 to 11.16), metastatic cancer (HR 3.55; 95% CI 2.32 to 5.45) and a higher Charlson's comorbidity score (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.26) were adverse predictors. Both raised TnT with ACS (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.39) and raised TnT with non-ACS (HR 2.37, 95% CI 1.87 to 3.00) were associated with worse survival. Raised TnT with non-ACS had a worse survival than raised TnT with ACS (p=0.001).

Conclusion Hospitalised patients with raised TnT levels from any cause predicted a higher mortality than normal TnT, with worst survival in those without an obvious ACS.