Estimating Reference Change Values Using Routine Patient Data: A Novel Pathology Database Approach.

Background: The reference change value (RCV) is calculated by combining the within-subject biological variation (CVI) and local analytical variation (CVA). These calculations do not account for the variation seen in preanalytical conditions in routine practice or CVI in patients presenting for treatment. As a result, the RCVs may not reflect routine practice or align with clinicians' experiences.

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T and Frailty Predict Short-Term Mortality in Patients ≥75 Years Undergoing Emergency Abdominal Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: An elevated cardiac troponin concentration is a prognostic factor for perioperative cardiac morbidity and mortality. In elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery, frailty is a recognized risk factor, but little is known about the prognostic value of cardiac troponin in these vulnerable patients. Therefore, we investigated the prognostic significance of elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) concentration and frailty in a cohort of elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Prognostic value of growth differentiation factor-15 3 months after an acute chest pain admission.

Objective: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a predictor of death and cardiovascular events when measured during index hospitalisation in patients with acute chest pain. This study investigated the prognostic utility of measuring GDF-15 3 months after an admission with suspected non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: GDF-15 was measured at baseline and 3 months after admission in 758 patients admitted with suspected NSTE-ACS.

Implementing screening for myocardial injury in non-cardiac surgery: perspectives of an ad-hoc interdisciplinary expert group.

. Perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) is increasingly recognised as an important complication of non-cardiac surgery, with often clinically silent presentation, but detrimental prognosis. Active screening for PMI, involving the detection of dynamic and elevated levels of cardiac troponin, has recently been advocated by an increasing number of guidelines; however, active PMI screening has not been reflected in clinical practice.

Sex Hormones and Adrenal Steroids: Biological Variation Estimated Using Direct and Indirect Methods.

Background: Biological variation (BV) data may be used to develop analytical performance specifications (APS), reference change values (RCV), and support the applicability of population reference intervals. This study estimates within-subject BV (CVI) for several endocrine biomarkers using 3 different methodological approaches.

Methods: For the direct method, 30 healthy volunteers were sampled weekly for 10 consecutive weeks.

Erratum to 'The association between serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and acute myocardial infarction in patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome is modified by body mass index*,***' International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention. Volume 11, December 2021, 200,109.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.

Predictors of long-term symptom burden and quality of life in patients hospitalised with chest pain: a prospective observational study.

Objective: To describe the magnitude and predictors of symptom burden (SB) and quality of life (QoL) 3 months after hospital admission for acute chest pain.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Single centre, outpatient follow-up.

Association between symptoms and risk of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction according to age and sex in patients admitted to the emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome: a single-centre retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Evaluate the association between symptoms and risk of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients admitted to an emergency department with suspected acute coronary syndrome based on sex and age.

Design: Post hoc analysis of a prospective observational study conducted between September 2015 and May 2019.

Setting: University hospital in Norway.

Determinants of Interindividual Variation in Exercise-Induced Cardiac Troponin I Levels.

Background Postexercise cardiac troponin levels show considerable interindividual variations. This study aimed to identify the major determinants of this postexercise variation in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) following 3 episodes of prolonged high-intensity endurance exercise. Methods and Results Study subjects were recruited among prior participants in a study of recreational cyclists completing a 91-km mountain bike race in either 2013 or 2014 (first race).

Quality benchmarking of smartphone laboratory medicine applications: comparison of laboratory medicine specialists' and non-laboratory medicine professionals' evaluation.

Objectives: There are many mobile health applications (apps) now available and some that use in some way laboratory medicine data. Among them, patient-oriented are of the lowest content quality. The aim of this study was to compare the opinions of non-laboratory medicine professionals (NLMP) with those of laboratory medicine specialists (LMS) and define the benchmarks for quality assessment of laboratory medicine apps.

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I and T Response Following Strenuous Activity is Attenuated by Smokeless Tobacco: NEEDED (North Sea Race Endurance Exercise Study) 2014.

Background Use of snus, a smokeless tobacco product, is increasing in Scandinavia. Strenuous physical activity is associated with an acute increase in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (swhs-cTn) concentrations. Current smoking is associated with lower hs-cTn, but whether this also holds true for smokeless tobacco and whether tobacco affects the hs-cTn response to exercise remain unknown.

Systemic Cardiac Troponin T Associated With Incident Atrial Fibrillation Among Patients With Suspected Stable Angina Pectoris.

Higher concentrations of cardiac troponin T are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and adverse cardiovascular prognosis. The relation with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) is less explored. We studied this association among 3,568 patients evaluated with coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris without previous history of AF.

Duration of Elevated Heart Rate Is an Important Predictor of Exercise-Induced Troponin Elevation.

Background The precise mechanisms causing cardiac troponin (cTn) increase after exercise remain to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of heart rate (HR) on exercise-induced cTn increase by using sports watch data from a large bicycle competition. Methods and Results Participants were recruited from NEEDED (North Sea Race Endurance Exercise Study).

Handling of hemolyzed serum samples in clinical chemistry laboratories: the Nordic hemolysis project.

Background Some clinical chemistry measurement methods are vulnerable to interference if hemolyzed serum samples are used. The aims of this study were: (1) to obtain updated information about how hemolysis affects clinical chemistry test results on different instrument platforms used in Nordic laboratories, and (2) to obtain data on how test results from hemolyzed samples are reported in Nordic laboratories. Methods Four identical samples containing different degrees of hemolysis were prepared and distributed to 145 laboratories in the Nordic countries.

Impact of different preanalytical conditions on results of lupus anticoagulant tests.

Introduction: The currently recommended preanalytical conditions for lupus anticoagulant (LA) analysis require analyzing samples in fresh or freshly frozen platelet-poor plasma. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether alternative and less cumbersome preanalytical procedures for LA testing give significantly different results compared to recommended conditions.

Materials And Methods: Citrated blood samples were drawn from 29 study participants, 15 with negative and 14 with positive LA results.

Race duration and blood pressure are major predictors of exercise-induced cardiac troponin elevation.

Background: The underlying mechanisms of the exercise-induced increase in cardiac troponins (cTn) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify independent determinants of exercise-induced cTn increase in a large cohort of healthy recreational athletes.

Methods: A total of 1002 recreational cyclists without known cardiovascular disease or medication, participating in a 91-km mountain bike race were included.