Results of a new study show that the Elecsys troponin T assay from Roche improves predictions of 30-day mortality in patients who have had noncardiac surgery, according to the company. Published in JAMA, the findings will help doctors to assess short-term cardiac risk and treat patients accordingly in order to reduce that risk, Roche says. Monitoring postoperative troponin T (TnT) measurements can help physicians identify which patients will require intensive monitoring and management after noncardiac surgery.

The VISION Study by McMaster University used the fourth-generation Elecsys Troponin T assay from Roche to accurately analyze blood samples from patients who had undergone noncardiac in-patient surgery. The team measured TnT levels in patients 6–12 hours after surgery and on days 1, 2, and 3 after surgery to determine whether there was a link between peak TnT levels and 30-day mortality. The study demonstrates that measuring TnT levels in the first three days after noncardiac surgery substantially improves risk prediction and reduces the possibility of misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of complications, according to Roche. Specifically, the study demonstrated that higher peak TnT levels are associated with a significantly greater risk of 30-day mortality. Moreover, 1.9% of patients died within 30 days after surgery, and of these 26.6% died after discharge from hospital, according to the company. The release of the protein TnT occurs only after cardiac damage, but little is known about interpreting TnT levels in patients following noncardiac surgery. Read more at pharmpro.com.