Cardiovascular events prediction by left ventricular longitudinal strain and serum high-sensitivity troponin I in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Depressed LS indicating subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction and elevated serum hsTnI both independently predicted MACE among young patients with axial SpA. Combined analysis of speckle-tracking-derived strain analysis and serum hsTnI improves risk stratification in these patients. Key Points • Both depressed longitudinal strain (LS) and elevated serum high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) are promising independent predictors for cardiovascular (CV) events in axial SpA. • Importantly, patients with LS ≥ - 17.5% and hsTnI ≥ 3.0 pg/ml had the highest risk of incident MACE. • Axial SpA patients with concomitant impaired LS and raised hsTnI are at a high risk of CV events.