STUDY OF TROPONIN-I LEVELS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Elevated Troponin-I levels either due to direct or indirect cardiac injury can present as asymptomatic to fulminant myocarditis and circulatory shock in COVID-19 patients. Our objective is to evaluate the Troponin-I levels in covid patients. AIM: To evaluate the possible myocardial involvement in covid-19 patients with the help of Troponin-I levels as an indicator of cardiac injury and its prognostic implication and significance as it is associated with increased mortality in patients with COVID-19. METHORDS: This was a both a prospective and retrospective cohort study done from 1st January 2021 to 1st July 2021. A total of 240 admitted patients were included and whose Troponin-I levels were evaluated and in a comparative analysis was performed for the demography, clinical features, biochemical markers and their outcome with their Troponin-I levels. RESULTS: Out of 250 covid-19 positive hospitalized patients, 15patients have elevated Troponin-I levels. Among these 15 patients 60% had preexisting co morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and history of cardiac disease. Patients with elevated troponin level had mean age of 61.1years, length of stay was >14 days in 60% patients. In 46% patients Troponin-I levels were more than 200ng/L. These patients had a higher need for intensive care with mortality of 73%. CONCLUSION: Etiology of myocardial involvement is multifactorial. Our study also concluded that elevated troponin levels in patients with covid19 have high morality. Therefore, the measurement of cardiac biomarkers, including Troponin-I and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), should be performed on admission.