Grant: Operating Grant

Currently, to confirm a heart attack, a blood test is used to measure the level of a specific protein, called cardiac troponin. Cardiac troponin is present in heart muscle. When the heart muscle is damaged as a result of a heart attack, troponin is released into the bloodstream and therefore can b measured using a troponin test. The blood level of cardiac troponin must exceed a specified limit, called the diagnostic cut-point, in order to confirm the diagnosis of a heart attack. Based on current guidelines, the same diagnostic cut-points are being used for both men and women even though we know in both healthy and sick populations women have lower levels of troponin at all ages. This difference may be a reflection of sex differences in how heart disease manifests in women compared to men. Our research will determine whether the cut-points for both the detection of a heart attack and for the assessment of risk for future unfavorable events, such as rehospitalization and death, should be different in women compared to men. This knowledge will help improve the clinical management of women with heart disease.