Prognostic Values of Electrolyte Abnormalities and Cardiac Biomarkers in Acute MI and During the Convalescent Phase: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Myocardial infarction is associated with myocardial necrosis and systemic biochemical disturbances that may influence clinical monitoring during acute illness and recovery. Cardiac Troponin I is an established biomarker of myocardial injury, while sodium, potassium, and chloride may provide supportive information regarding electrolyte instability during acute myocardial infarction. Objective: To compare Troponin I and selected serum electrolyte levels between the acute and convalescent phases of myocardial infarction patients. Methods: This paired comparative observational study was conducted among 100 myocardial infarction patients recruited from the cardiology wards of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from December 2023 to June 2024. Troponin I, sodium, potassium, and chloride values were recorded during the acute phase and again during the convalescent phase after treatment and hospitalization. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24, and paired-sample t-tests were applied with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Troponin I decreased from 10.8234 ng/mL during the acute phase to 0.5836 ng/mL during convalescence, representing a 94.61% relative decline (p < 0.001). Sodium increased from 133.48 mmol/L to 143.73 mmol/L, with a mean rise of 10.25 mmol/L (p < 0.001), and potassium increased from 3.6437 mmol/L to 4.3921 mmol/L, with a mean rise of 0.7484 mmol/L (p < 0.001). Chloride showed a small non-significant change from 107.183 mmol/L to 108.338 mmol/L (p = 0.447). Conclusion: Troponin I, sodium, and potassium differed significantly between acute and convalescent phases, while chloride remained stable. Sodium and potassium may support biochemical monitoring during myocardial infarction recovery but should not be interpreted as independent diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers without outcome-based validation