Distribution of Highly Sensitive Troponin in the Critically Unwell & Associated Mortality

The current diagnostic criteria for a heart attack require evaluation of a patient's symptoms and ECG but importantly a blood test called troponin. With advancing technology this test has become more sensitive and is now called a high sensitivity troponin. This is a very effective way of rapidly excluding a heart attack if the test is negative. However there are a number of causes of a raised high sensitivity other than a heart attack, particularly critical illness states. In the absence of features of a heart attack an abnormal result therefore suggests that the heart is inflamed or unwell causing the release of high sensitivity troponin. The DIGNITY study will examine the consequences of high sensitivity troponin elevation in patients in intensive care and assess whether it has a role as a biomarker for predicting outcome.