Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death, necessitating early detection and treatment for improved patient outcomes. Despite advancements in biomarkers, the aging population increases disease prevalence, highlighting the need for novel, more specific biomarkers like troponins, which are crucial for diagnosis. Aim of study Determination of sex and age specific 99th percentile upper reference limit of high sensitivity cardiac troponin I in a sample of apparently healthy Iraqi adults.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from May 28 to October 30, 2023, at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, involving 300 healthy volunteers (150 females, 150 males). Routine anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and biochemistry tests (fasting glucose, Hba1c, lipid profile) were performed, with participants meeting reference intervals included in the study for cardiac troponin measurement.
Results: In this study, cardiac troponin levels were significantly lower in females (median 0.7 pg/ml) compared to males (median 1.9 pg/ml) with a p-value < 0.001. The overall 99th percentile URL was 4.50 pg/ml, with males at 5.02 pg/ml and females at 3.39 pg/ml. Age-specific upper limits were: 20-29 years (2.69 pg/ml), 30-39 years (3.43 pg/ml), 40-49 years (3.79 pg/ml), and 50-72 years (5.90 pg/ml). Conclusion: The research found that high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I limits were lower than worldwide norms, helping to comprehend baseline troponin levels in healthy persons. The research found that men had higher 99th percentile URL troponin levels than females.
