# Association Between hsTnT and NT-proBNP and Peripheral Artery Disease in People with HIV: A Multicentre Danish Cohort Study

## TL;DR

This study found that high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) is linked to higher odds of existing and new peripheral artery disease in people with HIV.

## Contribution

The study is the first to show a specific association between hsTnT and PAD in people with HIV.

## Key findings

- A doubling in hsTnT concentration was associated with a 41% higher odds of prevalent PAD.
- High hsTnT was linked to a 3.39 times higher risk of developing new PAD.
- NT-proBNP showed no association with PAD in this population.

## Abstract

People with HIV (PWH) have a high risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), and high-sensitivity troponin (hsTnT) and NT-pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be useful biomarkers for PAD in PWH. We assessed associations between hsTnT and NT-proBNP and both prevalent PAD and de novo PAD. Adult PWH were examined at baseline and after 2 years. Inclusion criteria were (1) measurements of hsTnT and NT-proBNP at baseline and (2) ankle brachial index (ABI) at baseline for prevalent PAD and both visits for de novo PAD. PAD was defined as ABI ≤ 0.9. We included 1011 PWH, and 88 (8.7%) had PAD at baseline. Among 802 PWH, 29 (3.6%) had de novo PAD at follow-up. A doubling in hsTnT concentration was associated with prevalent PAD with an OR 1.41 (95% CI: 1.02–1.96, p = 0.04) and 1.40 (95% CI: 0.99–1.98, p = 0.055) in a base model and an adjusted model, respectively. High hsTnT was associated with a risk ratio of 3.39 (95% CI: 1.24–9.27, p = 0.02) for de novo PAD in an unadjusted model and 3.44 (95% CI: 0.98–12.10, p = 0.05) after adjustments. NT-proBNP was not associated with PAD. Thus, hsTnT was associated with higher odds of prevalent PAD and increased risk of de novo PAD.