Background And Purpose

Cardiac troponin (cTn) is a specific biomarker of cardiac injury and elevation of cTn is related to increased mortality. However, prognostic value of cTn in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) still remains to be elucidated. The aim of this review is to explore the strength of association between elevated cTn and mortality after AIS onset.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to July 12, 2021 without language restriction. All studies reporting the association between cTn on admission and mortality in AIS patients have been included in this review. Meta-analysis was performed for overall and pre-specified subgroup risk ratios (RR) were obtained using a random effect model. Study quality was assessed for each included study.

Results

There were 20 studies included in this meta-analysis with 9779 AIS patients met the inclusion criteria. There was significant association between elevated cTn and mortality in patients with AIS (RR 3.87; 95% CI 3.24-4.63). The association was consistent across the pre-specified subgroup analyses by type of troponin (cTnT or cTnI), assay of troponin (conventional or high-sensitivity), region (Asian or Non-Asian), definite exclusion of ACS/AMI patients or not (yes or not mentioned), adjusted AF, HF and impaired renal function or not (yes or no).

Conclusions

AIS patients with elevated cTn at baseline has an increased risk of mortality. Early and routine evaluation of cTn may contribute to timely detection of comorbid cardiac injury and prevent unfavorable outcomes in patients with AIS.

Prospero Registration Number

CRD42020160912.