High-sensitivity troponin in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome: a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial

Shah, A. S.V. et al. (2018) High-sensitivity troponin in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome: a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 392(10151), pp. 919-928. (doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31923-8) (PMID:30170853) (PMCID:PMC6137538)

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Abstract

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays permit use of lower thresholds for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, but whether this improves clinical outcomes is unknown. We aimed to determine whether the introduction of a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) assay with a sex-specific 99th centile diagnostic threshold would reduce subsequent myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome. Methods: In this stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial across ten secondary or tertiary care hospitals in Scotland, we evaluated the implementation of an hs-cTnI assay in consecutive patients who had been admitted to the hospitals' emergency departments with suspected acute coronary syndrome. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they presented with suspected acute coronary syndrome and had paired cardiac troponin measurements from the standard care and trial assays. During a validation phase of 6–12 months, results from the hs-cTnI assay were concealed from the attending clinician, and a contemporary cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay was used to guide care. Hospitals were randomly allocated to early (n=5 hospitals) or late (n=5 hospitals) implementation, in which the high-sensitivity assay and sex-specific 99th centile diagnostic threshold was introduced immediately after the 6-month validation phase or was deferred for a further 6 months. Patients reclassified by the high-sensitivity assay were defined as those with an increased hs-cTnI concentration in whom cTnI concentrations were below the diagnostic threshold on the contemporary assay. The primary outcome was subsequent myocardial infarction or death from cardiovascular causes at 1 year after initial presentation. Outcomes were compared in patients reclassified by the high-sensitivity assay before and after its implementation by use of an adjusted generalised linear mixed model. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01852123. Findings: Between June 10, 2013, and March 3, 2016, we enrolled 48 282 consecutive patients (61 [SD 17] years, 47% women) of whom 10 360 (21%) patients had cTnI concentrations greater than those of the 99th centile of the normal range of values, who were identified by the contemporary assay or the high-sensitivity assay. The high-sensitivity assay reclassified 1771 (17%) of 10 360 patients with myocardial injury or infarction who were not identified by the contemporary assay. In those reclassified, subsequent myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death within 1 year occurred in 105 (15%) of 720 patients in the validation phase and 131 (12%) of 1051 patients in the implementation phase (adjusted odds ratio for implementation vs validation phase 1·10, 95% CI 0·75 to 1·61; p=0·620). Interpretation: Use of a high-sensitivity assay prompted reclassification of 1771 (17%) of 10 360 patients with myocardial injury or infarction, but was not associated with a lower subsequent incidence of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death at 1 year. Our findings question whether the diagnostic threshold for myocardial infarction should be based on the 99th centile derived from a normal reference population. Funding: The British Heart Foundation.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This trial was funded by the British Heart Foundation (SP/12/10/29922) with support from the British Heart Foundation Centre for Research Excellence (RE/13/3/30183). CJW was supported by NHS Lothian through the Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit. Abbott Laboratories provided cardiac troponin assay reagents, calibrators, and controls without charge. NLM is supported by the Butler Senior Clinical Research Fellowship (FS/16/14/32023), from the British Heart Foundation.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McAllister, Professor David and Cruickshank, Dr Anne and Newby, Professor David and Berry, Professor Colin and Maguire, Donogh
Authors: Shah, A. S.V., Anand, A., Strachan, F. E., Ferry, A. V., Lee, K. K., Chapman, A. R., Sandeman, D., Stables, C. L., Adamson, P. D., Andrews, J. P.M., Anwar, M. S., Hung, J., Moss, A. J., O'Brien, R., Berry, C., Findlay, I., Walker, S., Cruickshank, A., Reid, A., Gray, A., Collinson, P. O., Apple, F. S., McAllister, D. A., Maguire, D., Fox, K. A.A., Newby, D. E., Tuck, C., Harkess, R., Parker, R. A., Keerie, C., Weir, C. J., Mills, N. L., Marshall, L., Stewart, S. D., Fujisawa, T., Vallejos, C. A., Tsanas, A., Hautvast, M., McPherson, J., McKinlay, L., Malo, J., Fischbacher, C. M., Croal, B. L., Leslie, S. J., Walker, A., Wackett, T., Armstrong, R., Stirling, L., MacDonald, C., Sadat, I., Finlay, F., Charles, H., Linksted, P., Young, S., Alexander, B., and Duncan, C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
Journal Name:Lancet
Publisher:The Lancet Publishing Group
ISSN:0140-6736
ISSN (Online):1474-547X
Published Online:28 August 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Lancet 392(10151): 919-928
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
620161High-Sensitive Troponin in the evaluation of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (HighSTEACS): A randomised control trialColin BerryBritish Heart Foundation (BHF)SP/12/10/29922RI CARDIOVASCULAR & MEDICAL SCIENCES