Improvement of outcome prediction of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 by a dual marker strategy using high-sensitive cardiac troponin I and copeptin

Background COVID-19 has been associated with a high prevalence of myocardial injury and increased cardiovascular morbidity. Copeptin, a marker of vasopressin release, has been previously established as a risk marker in both infectious and cardiovascular disease. Methods This prospective, observational study of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection was conducted from June 6th to November 26th, 2020 in a tertiary care hospital. Copeptin and high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels on admission were collected and tested for their association with the primary composite endpoint of ICU admission or 28-day mortality. Results A total of 213 eligible patients with COVID-19 were included of whom 55 (25.8%) reached the primary endpoint. Median levels of copeptin and hs-cTnI at admission were significantly higher in patients with an adverse outcome (Copeptin 29.6 pmol/L, [IQR, 16.2–77.8] vs 17.2 pmol/L [IQR, 7.4–41.0] and hs-cTnI 22.8 ng/L [IQR, 11.5–97.5] vs 10.2 ng/L [5.5–23.1], P