Cardiac Troponin I as a Prognostic Indicator of Mortality in Patients With Sepsis and Organ Dysfunction

Introduction and aim Sepsis is a complex, life-threatening condition characterized by systemic inflammation and multiorgan dysfunction. Elevated troponin levels (cTnI) have been associated with poor outcomes in sepsis; however, their role as a prognostic biomarker requires further investigation. This study aimed to (1) determine the association between elevated cardiac troponin I (>0.04 ng/mL) and 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis and organ dysfunction, and (2) evaluate the prognostic accuracy of troponin I for mortality prediction in this population. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 200 sepsis patients, measuring troponin levels at admission time and clinical and biochemical parameters, such as Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, D-dimer, and lactate. Data on organ dysfunction, coagulation abnormalities, and patient outcomes (mortality, length of ICU stay) were collected and analyzed. Results Troponin I levels were elevated in 69% of patients and were significantly associated with increased mortality (115 {83.4%} vs. 10 {16.2%}; p0.04 ng/mL demonstrated remarkable accuracy, achieving an AUC of 0.986 in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Conclusion Troponin I serves as a readily accessible and prognostically significant biomarker that improves early risk assessment in patients experiencing sepsis with organ dysfunction.