High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T and Risk of Hypertension

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of hypertension is often preceded by cardiac structural abnormalities. Thus, we assessed whether high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), a marker of subclinical myocardial damage, can identify individuals at risk for hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 6516 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study participants who were free of prevalent hypertension and cardiovascular disease at baseline (1990-1992). We examined the association of baseline hs-cTnT categories with incident diagnosed hypertension (defined by self-report of a diagnosis or medication use during a maximum of 19.9 years of follow-up) and with incident visit-based hypertension (defined by self-report, medication use, or measured blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg over 6 years). Relative to hs-cTnT <5 ng/L, adjusted hazard ratios for incident diagnosed hypertension were 1.16 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.25) for individuals with hs-cTnT of 5 to 8 ng/L, 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.47) for hs-cTnT of 9 to 13 ng/L, and 1.31 (95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.61) for hs-cTnT ≥14 ng/L (P for trend <0.001). Associations were stronger for incident visit-based hypertension. These associations were driven by higher relative hazard in normotensive people (compared with those with prehypertension; P for interaction=0.001). Baseline hs-cTnT was also strongly associated with incident left ventricular hypertrophy by electrocardiography over 6 years (eg, adjusted hazard ratio, 5.19 [95% confidence interval, 1.49-18.08] for hs-cTnT ≥14 versus <5 ng/L). Findings were not appreciably changed after accounting for competing deaths or adjusting for baseline blood pressure levels or N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide. CONCLUSIONS: In an ambulatory population with no history of cardiovascular disease, hs-cTnT was associated with incident hypertension and risk of left ventricular hypertrophy. Further research is needed to determine whether hs-cTnT can identify people who may benefit from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or hypertension prevention lifestyle strategies.