EARLY DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMANCE OF TROPONIN I VERSUS CK-MB IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: A COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of global mortality, where rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical for improving patient outcomes. Cardiac biomarkers play a central role in early detection, particularly Troponin I and CK-MB (Creatine Kinase-MB). This study aimed to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of Troponin I and CK-MB in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, involving patients presenting with chest pain within 6–12 hours of symptom onset. Serum levels of Troponin I and CK-MB were analyzed and compared using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA. Results demonstrated significantly elevated and more stable Troponin I levels compared to CK-MB (p < .001), indicating higher sensitivity and diagnostic reliability in early MI detection. CK-MB showed earlier elevation but greater variability and rapid decline, limiting its standalone diagnostic accuracy. Findings confirm that Troponin I is a superior biomarker for early myocardial infarction diagnosis due to its higher sensitivity, specificity, and prolonged detectability. However, CK-MB may still provide complementary diagnostic value in specific clinical scenarios such as reinfarction or resource-limited settings. The study supports the clinical prioritization of Troponin I in early MI diagnostic protocols