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Background-The progression of chronic heart failure (CHF) is related to ongoing myocyte loss, which can be detected by cardiac troponin T (cTnT). We examined the prevalence and prognostic value of increased cTnT concentrations in serial blood specimens from patients with severe CHF. Methods and Results-Clinical, echocardiographic, and 6-minute walk test data were collected prospectively at baseline and at 1 year in 115 outpatients (mean age, 61Ϯ11 years; 75% men; 62% coronary heart disease) with CHF and a left ventricular ejection fraction Ͻ40%. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. cTnT concentrations Ն0.02 ng/mL were considered abnormal, and a Tn index (highest cTnT measurement/0.02 ng/mL) was calculated. In 62 patients (54%), cTnT was consistently Ͻ0.02 ng/mL (group 1); 28 (24%) had a single abnormal cTnT result (group 2); and 25 (22%) had Ն2 abnormal cTnT results (group 3). At 18 months, CHF hospitalization-free survival was 63%, 46%, and 17%, respectively (Pϭ0.0001). In a Cox proportional-hazards model, hospitalization for worsening CHF in the previous year (HRϭ2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.1), functional class III-IV (HRϭ2.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.6), and number of abnormal cTnT samples (HRϭ1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.4) were independently associated with prognosis. A cTnT rise of 0.020 ng/mL in any sample was associated with an excess of 9% (95% CI, 1% to 18%) in the incidence of combined end point. Conclusions-Abnormal cTnT concentrations were detected in Ͼ50% of outpatients with advanced CHF. This ongoing myocardial necrosis was a strong predictor of worsening CHF, suggesting a role of cTnT-based monitoring to identify high-risk patients.

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Increased levels of cardiac troponin T were detected in one out of three congestive heart failure outpatients with preserved systolic function and correlated with clinical measures of disease severity and poor outcome. These findings suggest a link between ongoing myocardial injury and progressive impairment in congestive heart failure despite preserved systolic function.

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