Troponins are highly myocardial-specific regulatory proteins associated with the contractile element of cardiomyocyte myofilaments.

Earlier in clinical practice, this marker is well established as a major biomarker of acute myocardial injury. Complementing clinical (symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, sweating loss of consciousness, etc.) and functional data (electrocardiography, echocardiography) is the basis for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

A new clinical use of high-sensitivity troponin-I has now been made possible, the determination of the risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in the general population. This additional diagnostic significance of the marker is due to the high sensitivity of the "High Sensitivity Troponin-I" test system, which allows the detection of very low concentrations of cardiac troponin-I in the blood, even in healthy people. 

According to recent studies, Troponin-I levels in the absence of clinical manifestations are an independent predictor of CVEs such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischaemic stroke, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular death. In addition, an increased risk of MI and stroke has been noted in practically healthy people with troponin I levels approaching high-risk levels.

The basis of modern cardiovascular prevention lies in predicting the risk of CVEs. The study of high-sensitivity troponin-I in blood can be used for examination of conditionally healthy people in order to identify risk groups long before the first symptoms of CVDs, which will help to determine the tactics of patient management and prevent adverse outcomes. Depending on the level of troponin-I in the blood, cardiovascular risk may be low, intermediate, or increased.

High-sensitivity troponin-I concentrations can be used to assess the effectiveness of statin treatment in people with coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. According to recent studies troponin-I is a prognostically more favorable sign regardless of the reduction of total cholesterol and LDL levels.