Table 2

Increased cardiac troponins in patients with positive natriuretic peptides: results of the meta-analysis

OutcomeNo of studiesReferencesProportion of events (95% CI)Pooled OR (95% CI)Homogeneity
p valueI2 (%)
All-cause mortality615, 19, 28, 32, 33, 35(+): 37/97, 38.1% (28.4% to 47.9%)8.0 (3.0 to 21.4)0.720.0
(−): 7/119, 5.9% (1.7% to 10.1%)
APE-related mortality415, 28, 33, 35(+): 13/74, 17.6% (8.8% to 26.3%)8.6 (2.2 to 34.1)0.570.0
(−): 2/79, 2.5% (0.0% to 5.9%)
Serious adverse outcome415, 19, 28, 32(+): 27/79, 34.2% (23.7% to 44.7%)13.3 (2.4 to 74.2)0.830.0
(−): 8/49, 16.3% (5.8% to 26.8%)
Right ventricular dysfunction215, 28(+): 44/50, 88.0% (78.9% to 97.1%)1.67 (0.4 to 6.6)NANA
(−): 12/17, 70.6% (50.8% to 90.3%)
  • APE, acute pulmonary embolism; CI, confidence interval; NA, not applicable; OR, odds ratio.

  • (+) indicates the proportion of patients with the outcome of interest among those with both positive troponins and natriuretic peptides; (−) indicates the proportion of patients with the outcome of interest among those with negative troponins and positive natriuretic peptides.