Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare the levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in apparently non-COVID-19 (COVID-19-) and post-COVID-19 (COVID-19+) persons with metabolic syndrome (MetS+) and without metabolic syndrome (MetS-). METHODS: The descriptive correlational study was carried out in 275 inhabitants of the city of Trujillo in 2023. Cardiac markers were determined by time-resolved immunofluorescence. RESULTS: It was determined that 58.2% of the participants presented COVID-19 and 46.5% presented a diagnosis of MetS according to the harmonized ATP III criteria. Levels of cTnI greater than 0.05 ng/mL were found in low percentages in the COVID-19-/MetS-, COVID-19-/MetS+, and COVID-19+/MetS- groups at 0.7% each, and in the COVID-19+/SM+ group, it was 0.4%. NT-proBNP concentrations higher than 125 pg/mL were found in 2.9% of participants, of which 1.1% were in the COVID-19+/MetS+ group, a slightly higher proportion compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: The proportion of individuals with normal or elevated cTnI and NT-ProBNP levels does not differ significantly in both healthy individuals, with MetS only, and those with mild Post COVID-19 with or without MetS; however, longitudinal studies are required to detect possible myocardial events in either group for adequate treatment, especially in those with COVID-19+/MetS+.