Prognostic value of high‐sensitive troponin T for predicting cardiovascular events after atrial fibrillation ablation

Background and Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the utility of high‐sensitive troponin T (hs‐TnT) for predicting AF recurrence and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after AF ablation. Methods and Results A total of 227 consecutive patients with AF (mean age, 66 ± 10 years; persistent AF, n = 98) who underwent an initial ablation were enrolled. We measured hs‐TnT before AF ablation and divided the patients into three groups according to the hs‐TnT level: low, lesser than or equal to 0.005 µg/L (n = 54); medium, 0.006–0.013 µg/L (n = 127); and high, greater than or equal to0.014 µg/L (n = 46). We evaluated the composite endpoint of AF recurrence or MACE (including death, stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure hospitalization) after the ablation. The median hs‐TnT level was 0.008 µg/L. The values of chronic kidney disease prevalence, CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score, B‐type natriuretic peptide level, and left atrial diameter were the highest in the high hs‐TnT group among the three groups. During a mean follow‐up of 15 ± 8 months, AF recurrence and MACE occurred in 56 (25%) and 9 (4%) patients, respectively. The high hs‐TnT group had the highest incidence of AF recurrence and MACE among the three groups (high: 39% and 15%, medium: 22% and 2%, and low: 19% and 0%, respectively; log‐rank P  < .05). In multivariate analysis, hs‐TnT greater than or equal to 0.014 µg/L and persistent AF were independent predictors of the composite endpoint. Conclusion Hs‐TnT may be a useful marker for predicting AF recurrence or MACE after AF ablation.