Recognizing the potential for overdiagnosis: are high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays an example?

Abstract

Overdiagnosis is commonly conceptualized as an unintended consequence of early disease detection in asymptomatic persons but can also occur in persons with symptoms. This commentary poses ways to identify this problem and examines the use of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays to diagnose type 1 myocardial infarction as an example of the potential for overdiagnosis.