TyG index is positively associated with risk of CHD and coronary atherosclerosis severity among NAFLD patients

Triglyceride-glucose index and mortality risks in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients: a national cohort study

BACKGROUND

While Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with insulin resistance and higher mortality, research on insulin resistance indices and outcomes in H. pylori-infected patients is scarce. This study examines the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, an insulin resistance marker, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in these patients.

METHODS

This study analyzed NHANES 1999-2000 data to assess the association between the TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in H. pylori-infected patients using weighted Cox models and restricted cubic spline analysis.

RESULTS

Among 627 participants with a median follow-up of 20.8 years, 108 all-cause and 28 cardiovascular deaths occurred. Cox models showed that TyG was linked to a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.70 for all-cause mortality (95% CI: 1.23-2.34, P < 0.01) and an HR of 2.90 for cardiovascular mortality (95% CI: 1.91-4.42, P < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed a linear relationship between the TyG index and both mortality risks. Stratified analyses showed that this relationship was significantly associated in most subgroups, but there was no significant interaction.

CONCLUSION

Higher TyG index is strongly linked to increased risks of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in H. pylori-infected patients.

The triglyceride-glucose index trajectories are associated with cardiovascular diseases in people living with HIV: evidence from a prospective cohort study in China, 2005-2022

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been validated as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the prospective relationship between baseline and long-term trajectories of the TyG index and CVD risk in people living with HIV (PLWH) remains unexplored.

METHODS

This cohort study included 16,122 treatment-naive PLWH who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen from 2005 to 2022. The TyG index was calculated as Ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify distinct TyG index trajectories over the follow-up period. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between TyG index trajectories and CVD risk. Nonlinear relationships were investigated using a restricted cubic spline plot.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 70 months, 214 PLWH developed CVD. Each 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in the baseline TyG index was associated with a 39% higher risk of CVD (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.22, 1.59) after adjusting for covariates. Participants were categorized into four distinct TyG trajectory groups: low-stable, low-moderate-stable, high-moderate-stable, and high-increasing. After multivariate adjustment, the high-increasing trajectory group had a 2.92-fold (95% CI 1.68, 5.05) increased risk of CVD compared to the low-stable group. The restricted cubic spline plot showed an upward trend between the baseline TyG index and the CVD occurrence (P < 0.001), with the threshold at 8.479 for all HIV patients. Significantly positive correlations between the TyG index and CVD were observed both below the TyG threshold with HR 3.38 (95% CI 1.07, 10.68) and above the threshold with HR 1.43 (95% CI 1.07, 1.92) (both P < 0.05). After stratifying by sex, the spline curves in men were nearly identical to those observed in the overall HIV-infected population. While women also demonstrated a nonlinear association with a similar threshold (8.484), the relationship above the threshold was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher baseline TyG index levels and the high-increasing trajectory were significantly associated with increased CVD risk in PLWH. These findings underscore the TyG index as a valuable marker for CVD risk assessment in PLWH, particularly in male populations. Incorporating TyG index monitoring into routine clinical assessments could enhance risk stratification and inform tailored prevention strategies. Further studies are needed to validate these findings in other cohorts and to explore their applicability in women.

Lipidomics-based investigation of its impact on the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Considerable attention has been devoted to investigating the association between lipid metabolites and cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary atherosclerosis.

METHODS

A two-sample MR framework was used to investigate the relationship between lipid metabolites and the risk of coronary atherosclerosis. Two GWAS datasets were examined to take intersections of SNPs from 51,589 cases and 343,079 controls, and 14,334 cases and 346,860 controls to determine genetic susceptibility to coronary atherosclerosis. Random-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) MR analyses were performed by a series of sensitivity assessments to measure the robustness of our findings and to detect any violations of MR assumptions.

RESULTS

Through IVW, MR-Egger and weighted median regression methods, we inferred that these six lipid metabolites: cholesterol levels, sterol ester (27:1/18:2) levels, triacylglycerol (52:4) levels, triacylglycerol (52:5) levels, diacylglycerol (18:1_18.2) levels, triacylglycerol (53:4), could directly impact the development of atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study comprehensively illustrates a causal relationship between lipid metabolites and the risk of coronary atherosclerosis. Furthermore, cholesterol levels, sterol ester (27:1/18:2) levels, triacylglycerol (52:4) levels, triacylglycerol (52:5) levels, diacylglycerol (18:1_18.2) levels, and triacylglycerol (53:4) levels are positively correlated with the risk of coronary atherosclerosis. These six lipid metabolites have the potential as new predictors of the risk of atherosclerosis, providing new insights into the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Triglyceride-glucose index predicts adverse cardiovascular events in patients with H-type hypertension combined with coronary heart disease: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride‒glucose index (TyG index) is a reliable surrogate for insulin resistance (IR) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have reported that H-type hypertension is likewise a predictor of adverse events in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the relationship between the TyG index and prognosis in patients with H-type hypertension combined with CHD has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the TyG index and adverse outcomes in patients with H-type hypertension combined with CHD.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study that included patients who were diagnosed with H-type hypertension combined with CHD between 2018 and 2023 at Beijing Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University. The TyG index was divided into three groups according to tertiles. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze the cumulative risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and ROC curve analysis was performed by the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression models were adopted to explore the relationship between the TyG index and MACEs. C-statistics, NRI, and IDI were used to evaluate the incremental predictive ability of the TyG index.

RESULTS

A total of 546 patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 39.00 ± 0.69 months, and 73 MACEs occurred, with higher tertiles of the TyG index associated with a higher cumulative risk of MACEs (log-rank, P = 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, the fully adjusted ORs (95% CI) for T2 and T3 of the TyG index, with the lowest tertile as reference, were 1.64 (0.80-3.36) and 2.43 (1.19-4.97), respectively. The addition of the TyG index led to a significant improvement in the overall predictive power of the baseline model. [C-statistic increased from 0.63 to 0.66, p = 0.031; continuous NRI (95% CI) 0.13 (0.001-0.276), p = 0.038; IDI (95% CI) 0.01 (0.000-0.031), p = 0.047].

CONCLUSION

The TyG index may be an independent risk factor for predicting adverse postoperative cardiovascular events in patients with H-type hypertension combined with CHD, indicating its potential significance in improving risk stratification strategies.

Global trends in the burden of ischemic heart disease based on the global burden of disease study 2021: the role of metabolic risk factors

BACKGROUND

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. This study aims to evaluate the trends in IHD burden across different socioeconomic regions using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) and to understand the impact of the metabolic risk factors on these trends.

METHODS

Data from GBD 2021 was analyzed to evaluate the global age-standardized death rates (ASDR) and disability-adjusted life years (ASRDALYs) linked to IHD. Key metabolic risk factors evaluated included high systolic blood pressure (SBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and body mass index (BMI). Temporal trends were assessed using estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs), with further analysis by age, sex and socio-demographic index (SDI).

RESULTS

Resource-abundant regions showed notable reductions in ASDR and ASRDALYs, largely due to effective management of SBP and LDLc, resulting in an EAPC of -3.43 (95% CI: -3.32, -3.53). In contrast, resource-limited regions, particularly among males, experienced stagnation or even increases in IHD burden. The EAPC of ASDR in low-, low-middle-, and middle-SDI regions ranged from - 0.12 (95% CI: -0.04, -0.19) to 0.16 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.23). Among males, the values ranged from 0.22 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.29) to 0.55 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.62). The increase in IHD burden in these regions was primarily driven by rising levels of FPG and BMI. Younger populations (15-49 years) were disproportionately affected, showing increasing exposure to these metabolic risks.

CONCLUSION

Regional disparities in IHD burden persist, primarily driven by metabolic risk factors. Resource-abundant regions have benefitted from effective control of SBP and LDLc, whereas resource-limited regions face growing challenges, especially related to FPG and BMI. The use of secondary data from the GBD 2021 database provides a comprehensive global perspective but may not fully capture local variations in disease burden. Targeted public health strategies and early interventions are essential to reduce the growing IHD burden in these vulnerable populations.

Evaluation of the effects of short-term PM2.5 exposure on triglyceride-glucose metrics in a population in eastern China

CONTEXT

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a novel health indicator, has been widely employed to assess insulin resistance (IR). However, its relationship with fine particulate matter (PM) exposure remains inadequately investigated.

OBJECTIVE

This study endeavors to probe the association between PM2.5 and TyG within the population of eastern China and to determine whether there are disparities in this association among diverse subgroups.

METHODS

We conducted an ecological study on a cohort comprising 39,011 individuals who had undergone at least two physical examinations between 2017 and 2019 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, China. TyG levels concerning short-term PM2.5 exposure were examined using a generalized additive model.

RESULTS

In the overall population, at lags of 0-7 and 0-14 days in the single-pollutant model, it was observed that a 10 µg/m3 rise in PM2.5 corresponded to a 0.0021 elevation in TyG levels. In the multi-pollutant models, at 0-7 and 0-14 days lags, a comparable increase in PM2.5 resulted in an increase in TyG of 0.0073 and 0.0044, respectively. The association remained significant in the subgroup analyses.

CONCLUSION

PM2.5 exposure is related to the TyG index. Controlling air pollution might contribute to maintainin normal lipid metabolism function.

Assessing the predictive value of elevated triglycerides, triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and TG/HDL ratios for cardiovascular disease and mortality during 20 years of follow-up: Tehran lipid and glucose study

OBJECTIVES

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, influenced by a complex interplay of risk factors including lipid disorders and insulin resistance (IR). The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio have emerged as potential indicators for assessing cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of hypertriglyceridemia, the TyG index, and the TG/HDL ratio for mortality and CVD occurrence within an Iranian population.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Conducted within the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study over 20 years, this research analyzed 7,117 participants to assess the association between these lipid biomarkers and CVD risk and mortality. Participants were stratified by their TyG and TG/HDL indices, with Cox proportional hazards models determining risk ratios across three adjusted models considering various demographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS

The study found significant associations between elevated triglycerides, TyG, and TG/HDL levels with increased risks of mortality and CVD during the 20-year follow-up. Specifically, the hazard ratios for CVD events were notably significant in the second triglyceride group (150-250 mg/dL), with a hazard ratio of 1.36 (1.19-1.55) in both Model 1 and Model 2, and in the third group (250-400 mg/dL), with ratios of 1.88 (1.63-2.17) in Model 1, 1.90 (1.65-2.19) in Model 2, and 1.44 (1.24-1.67) in Model 3.

CONCLUSION

Hypertriglyceridemia, the TyG index, and the TG/HDL ratio are easily calculable and clinically relevant markers for cardiovascular risk assessment. Their integration into routine health evaluations could facilitate early detection and management of at-risk individuals, potentially reducing the incidence and impact of CVD within the community.

The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) of Escherichia Coli Promotes Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Large-scale studies indicate a strong relationship between the gut microbiome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Here, a higher abundance of the type III secretion system (T3SS) virulence factors of Enterobacteriaceae/Escherichia-Shigella in patients with T2DM-related-ASCVD, which correlates with their atherosclerotic stenosis is reported. Overexpression of T3SS via Citrobacter rodentium (CR) infection in Apoe-/- T2DM mice exacerbated atherosclerotic lesion formation and increased gut permeability. Non-targeted metabolomic and proteomic analysis of mouse serum showed that T3SS caused abnormal glycerophospholipid metabolism in mice. Proteomics, RNA sequencing, and functional analyses showed that T3SS induced ferroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells, partly due to increased expression of ferritin heavy chains (FTH1). This findings first demonstrated that T3SS increases ferroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells, via disrupting the intestinal barrier and upregulation of phosphatidylcholine, thereby exacerbating T2DM-related ASCVD.

Association between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) related indices and cardiovascular diseases and mortality among individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a cohort study of UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) related indices, which serve as simple markers for insulin resistance, have been closely linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality. However, the prognostic utility of TyG-related indices in predicting the risk of CVD and mortality among patients with MASLD remains unclear.

METHODS

Data of 97,331 MASLD patients, with a median age of 58.0 years and free of CVD at baseline, were obtained from the UK Biobank. The TyG index, along with its combination with adiposity parameters (i.e. body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]), were calculated. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were performed to evaluate the associations between TyG-related indices and the risk of overall CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Additionally, Harrell's C-index, net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI) were used to assess the predictive performance of these indices.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up of 13.56 years, we identified 13,256 cases of overall CVD, 10,980 CHD, 2,926 stroke, 8,809 all-cause mortality, and 1,796 cardiovascular mortality. Compared with the lowest quartile of TyG-related indices, participants with MASLD in the high quartile of TyG-related indices had a significantly increased risk of incident overall CVD, CHD, stroke, and mortality. Specifically, the hazard ratios of occurring overall CVD in the fourth versus the first quartiles were 1.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.13-1.25) for TyG, 1.35 (1.28-1.42) for TyG-BMI, 1.33 (1.26-1.40) for TyG-WC, and 1.39 (1.32-1.46) for TyG-WHtR. RCS analyses indicated a nonlinear association of TyG with CVD outcomes (all P values for nonlinearity < 0.05), whereas there exhibited linear trends in TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR with CVD outcomes (all P values for nonlinearity > 0.05, except for TyG-WC with stroke). Furthermore, TyG-WC and TyG-WHtR demonstrated the significantly higher C-index, NRI, and IDI in predicting risk of CVD and mortality in MASLD patients.

CONCLUSION

TyG-related indices, especially TyG-WC and TyG-WHtR, had significant predictive values for the risk of incident CVD and mortality in individuals with MASLD. TyG-related indices may serve as effective surrogate predictors of CVD and mortality in MASLD patients.

The Predictive Value of TyG Index and NLR for Risk of CHD and the Severity of Coronary Artery Lesions in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background

There is a paucity of research examining the Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in relation to the onset and severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to explore the relationship between these biomarkers and the risk of CHD in T2DM patients and clarify their association with the CHD severity.

Methods

A total of 518 patients with T2DM who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were included and categorized into either the T2DM group or the T2DM combined with CHD group based on the angiographic findings. The association of the TyG index and NLR with CHD and its severity were validated by logistic regression analyses. The predictive efficacy of both biomarkers, individually and in combination, for CHD was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

Among the 518 patients with T2DM, 396 individuals were identified as having a combination of CHD of varying severity. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, hypertension, and history use of glucose- and lipid-lowering medications, both TyG index and NLR were risk factors for CHD in T2DM patients (TyG index: OR:3.89, 95% CI:2.60-5.82; NLR: OR:1.44, 95% CI:1.22-1.71; all P<0.05). The odds ratios(OR) for the highest tertile compared to the lowest tertile of TyG index and NLR were 3.61(95% CI:2.41-5.40) and 1.62(95% CI:1.25-2.09).The TyG index exhibited a significant correlation with CHD severity in T2DM patients (OR:2.96, 95% CI:1.19-7.32; P=0.019). The areas under the curve for TyG index and NLR alone, and in combination, to predict CHD were 0.717, 0.692, and 0.761, respectively (all P<0.001).

Conclusion

The TyG index and NLR were significantly associated with the occurrence of CHD in the T2DM population. The combined use of these two biomarkers enhances diagnostic accuracy, which is beneficial for the prevention of CHD.

Curcumin and Metformin Infinite Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles for Combined Therapy of Diabetic Mice via Intraperitoneal Injections

Metformin (Met) is one of the most commonly prescribed first-line drugs for diabetes treatment. However, it has several issues, including low bioavailability, therapeutic platform, and side effects at high doses. In order to improve the therapeutic efficiency of Met, this study proposes a strategy of using Met and curcumin (Cur) to prepare Cur-Zn(II)-Met infinite coordination polymer nanoparticles (CM ICP NPs), and combining this with intraperitoneal injections, for the treatment of diabetic mice. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle analysis, cytotoxicity experiments, and mice experiments were used to investigate structure, properties, and application effects. The results showed that CM ICP NPs exhibit a high drug encapsulation rate (100%), good stability, and an absence of in vivo and in vitro toxicity. The blood glucose level of diabetic mice after treatment was reduced to 6.7 ± 0.65 mmol/L at the seventh week. In terms of therapeutic mechanism, it appears that Met and Cur can synergistically regulate blood glucose in mice from multiple paths. This study provides a promising method for the treatment of diabetes using Met and other drugs.

Associations of TyG index with coronary heart disease risk and coronary artery sclerosis severity in OSA

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and coronary heart disease (CHD). The triglyceride glucose(TyG) index, an alternative indicator of IR with high reliability, is linked to CHD development and severity. However, the association of TyG index with CHD in OSA cases remains undefined. This study explores the association of TyG index with CHD risk and coronary artery sclerosis severity in the OSA population.

METHODS

OSA cases with suspected CHD, enrolled at the Department of Hypertension, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between February 2020 and June 2024, were assigned to the OSA and OSA + CHD groups, followed by TyG index assessment. The t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and one-way analysis of variance were utilized to compare continuous data, while comparisons of categorical data utilized the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine factors independently predicting OSA with CHD and Gensini scores. Restrictive cubic spline (RCS) was used to assess potential non-linear associations of TyG index with CHD risk and Gensini score in OSA patients.

RESULTS

Totally 1059 OSA patients were included, with 514 diagnosed with CHD (48.54%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis upon adjustment for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking history revealed TyG index as a risk factor for CHD in OSA cases. CHD risk in the high-TyG index group was 1.977 fold higher versus the low-TyG index group (OR = 1.977, 95% CI 1.424-2.800, P < 0.001). In addition, TyG index had a linear relationship with CHD (P for nonlinearity = 0.0709). In moderate to severe OSA cases, the high-TyG index group had a significantly higher CHD risk (OR = 2.430, 95% CI 1.601-3.690, P < 0.001). Gensini score and TyG index (P for non-linearity = 0.0033) had a non-linear relationship, while high TyG index was a risk factor for high Gensini score.

CONCLUSION

TyG index is a risk factor for CHD in OSA cases and reflects the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. TyG, a surrogate indicator for IR evaluation, may help predict CHD in OSA cases, especially in moderate to severe OSA.

Relationships among Helicobacter pylori seropositivity, the triglyceride-glucose index, and cardiovascular disease: a cohort study using the NHANES database

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a widely prevalent pathogen that can be cured through relatively simple medical methods, is thought to be potentially associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), although controversy remains. Currently, it is unclear whether the triglyceride-glucose index (TGI), a classic indicator of insulin resistance, influences the relationship between H. pylori infection and CVD. The present work explored the relationships between H. pylori seropositivity, the TGI and CVD, and the potential effect of TGI in this association.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional and cohort study, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and NHANES (1999-2000) were used. The effects of the TGI, H. pylori seropositivity, and their interaction on the risk of CVD were assessed using logistic regression models. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality (ACM) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were employed to investigate potential non-linear or linear relationships among the TGI, H. pylori seropositivity, occurrence of CVD, and ACM. Mediation analyses were employed to assess the potential effects of H. pylori seropositivity and TGI on the risk of CVD and mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 9,399 participants, 4,488 (47.75%) were H. pylori-immunoglobulin G (IgG)-positive, and 3,934 (41.86%) were diagnosed with CVD. In the general population, participants with a TGI ≥ 75th percentile who were positive for H. pylori-IgG antibody had the highest risk of developing CVD (odds ratio = 1.487; 95% CI: 1.088-2.033). Among patients with CVD, those with a TGI ≥ 75th percentile & positive for H. pylori-IgG antibody were at a higher ACM risk (HR = 1.227; 95% CI: 1.009-1.491). H. pylori exhibited a significant mediating effect on CVD occurrence (Pindir = 0.004) and mortality (Pindir = 0.004) via the TGI.

CONCLUSIONS

H. pylori seropositivity may indirectly elevate the risk of CVD and mortality via the TGI. Combining the patient's H. pylori serological status with their TGI could enhance the predictive ability for CVD occurrence and related mortality. Therefore, the clinical practice of screening for and eradicating H. pylori in CVD patients may be anticipated.

Triglyceride-glycaemic index: Insights into predicting fetal macrosomia and its interaction with gestational diabetes mellitus: A cohort study of Chinese pregnant women

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the association between a new insulin resistance indicator, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, and the risk of macrosomia.

DESIGN

This is a prospective cohort study.

METHODS

This study included 1332 women who delivered at Peking University International Hospital between October 2017 and August 2019. Participants were divided equally into three groups based on the TyG index. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between the TyG index and macrosomia and conducted subgroup analyses. The TyG index's ability to predict macrosomia was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the TyG index is an independent risk factor for macrosomia (Odds ratio [OR] 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-3.30, p < .05). RCS analysis indicates that the risk of macrosomia increases with the rise of the TyG index (p for nonlinearity <.001) when the TyG index is >6.53. Subgroup analysis showed a synergistic additive interaction between the TyG index and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) of macrosomia. The area under the ROC curve for the predictive model was 0.733 (95% CI 0.684, 0.781), with a sensitivity of 76.4% and specificity of 66.9%. Incorporating the TyG index alongside traditional risk factors notably enhances macrosomia prediction (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG index independently predicts macrosomia, and exhibits an additive interaction with GDM in its occurrence. Integrating the TyG index with traditional risk factors improves the prediction of macrosomia.

TRIAL REGISTRY

Clinical trials. gov [NCT02966405].

The interaction between triglyceride-glucose index and visceral adiposity in cardiovascular disease risk: findings from a nationwide Chinese cohort

BACKGROUND

Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) constitutes the primary cause of death, with insulin resistance (IR), measured by the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, and visceral obesity, reflected by the Chinese Visceral Adiposity Index (CVAI), as key contributors. However, the relationship between the TyG index and CVAI regarding CVD risk remains insufficiently understood. This research investigates the interactive impact of the TyG index and CVAI on the risk of cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 8,358 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) over a 9-year follow-up period. Participants were classified into four groups based on median TyG index (8.59) and CVAI values (101.26), and baseline characteristics were summarized. Missing data were addressed using multiple imputation by chained equations (MICE). Cox proportional hazards models assessed associations between TyG index, CVAI, CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke risks, with Kaplan-Meier analysis used for cumulative hazard. Interaction effects were evaluated using both multiplicative and additive measures. Subgroup analyses by age, gender, and clinical conditions were conducted to explore interaction effects across different populations. Sensitivity analyses re-tested models, excluding the covariates BMI and diabetes, using tertiles for classification, and re-evaluating imputed data.

RESULTS

Over the 9-year follow-up, 1,240 participants (14.8%) developed CVD, including 896 cases of CHD and 475 strokes. Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that participants with low TyG index but high CVAI had the highest cumulative hazard of CVD. Cox regression showed that this group had the highest CVD risk (HR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.57-2.24), followed by those with both high TyG index and high CVAI (HR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.49-2.06). Interaction analysis revealed a negative interaction effect between high TyG and high CVAI on CVD and CHD risks, with no significant effect on stroke. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses further confirmed these findings, showing consistent results across demographic groups and under various analytical conditions.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the interaction between IR (TyG index) and visceral fat accumulation (CVAI) plays a complex role in CVD risk, with a potential antagonistic effect observed between high TyG and high CVAI on CVD events. These findings highlight the importance of considering both IR and visceral adiposity in CVD risk assessments to improve the identification of high-risk individuals.

Sustainable Intervention: Grape Pomace Flour Ameliorates Fasting Glucose and Mitigates Streptozotocin-Induced Pancreatic Damage in a Type 2 Diabetes Animal Model

Background/Objectives: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and oxidative imbalances. This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary supplementations with 'Arinto' grape pomace flour (GPF) (WGPF) and 'Touriga Nacional' GPF (RGPF) in an animal model of T2DM. Methods: T2DM was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) for 28 days and a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg) on the 21st day. Forty adult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control (CT), T2DM, T2DM + Metformin (250 mg/kg), T2DM + 10% 'Arinto' GPF (WGPF), and T2DM + 10% 'Touriga Nacional' GPF (RGPF). On the 21st day of the experimental protocol, animals were submitted to an oral glucose tolerance test. An oral glucose tolerance test, oxidative stress parameters, biochemical analysis, and pancreas histological analyses were performed. Results: T2DM impaired glucose tolerance, elevated serum triglycerides and cholesterol, increased oxidative damage in the liver, and induced pancreatic histological abnormalities. However, supplementation with WGPF and RGPF demonstrated positive effects, mitigating glycemic and lipid disruptions, ameliorating oxidative stress, and protecting pancreatic Islets β-cells. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the protective effects of WGPF and RGPF in the adverse impacts of T2DM. Additionally, our study emphasizes the innovative use of grape pomace, a winemaking by-product, promoting sustainability by transforming waste into functional foods with significant health benefits.

Diagnostic value of CT liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerotic plaque

Objective

To explore the clinical value of computed tomography (CT) liver-to-spleen (L/S) attenuation ratio in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) accompanied by atherosclerotic plaque (AP).

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study of patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD undergoing CT scans at Beijing Changping Hospital of Chinese Medicine from April 2020 to April 2022. Patients were grouped according to whether they had a diagnosis of AP or not. Healthy individuals without NAFLD undergoing CT scans during the same period were also included as a control group. The patients were matched for gender, age, and BMI in a 1:1:1 ratio. Correlations between the CT L/S attenuation ratio, liver function indicators, and blood lipid levels were assessed in the three groups. The predictive value of the CT L/S attenuation ratio was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) analyses.

Results

Eighty-nine cases in each group. The three groups had significant differences in liver function and blood lipid levels (P<0.05). The CT L/S attenuation ratio in the NAFLD+AP and NAFLD groups was lower than that in the control group and was the lowest in the NAFLD+AP group (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the CT L/S attenuation ratio and liver function indicators (P>0.05), but it positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and negatively correlated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) (P<0.05). The CT L/S attenuation ratio had a high predictive value for NAFLD patients with AP (AUC=0.859).

Conclusions

The CT L/S attenuation ratio in NAFLD patients with AP is significantly reduced and is closely related to the levels of blood lipid indicators. The CT L/S attenuation ratio has a high predictive value for NAFLD patients with AP.

Gender-specific capacity of insulin resistance proxies to predict functional decline in older adults

OBJECTIVES

Insulin resistance determined by Homeostasis Model of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) has been associated with functional decline in non-diabetic older subjects. However, insulin is not routinely assessed. The study evaluated the predictive value of non-insulin-dependent IR surrogates on functional decline in non-diabetic older men and women.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Prospective cohort study over 5 years. The study included 615 older participants from the Toledo Study of Healthy Aging.

METHODS

Frailty was assessed by the Frailty Trait Scale-5 (FTS-5) at baseline and after 5 years follow-up. 193 subjects experienced functional decline (2.5-point reduction in the FTS-5 score). Multivariate regression models analysed the effect of five described IR surrogates on functional decline considering potential confounders.

RESULTS

Among evaluated IR proxies, triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and HOMA-IR were significantly associated with an increased risk of functional decline (odd ratio (95% confidence interval) TyG-BMI: 1.16 (1.05, 1.28), p = 0.0035 and HOMA-IR: 1.59 (1.15, 2.21), p = 0.0056) among all participants. When stratified by gender, HOMA-IR was related to functional decline in men [2.02 (1.13, 3.59), p = 0.0173] and TyG-BMI in women [1.19 (1.05, 1.35), p = 0.0057].

CONCLUSIONS

Only TyG-BMI index mimics the predictive capacity of insulin-based IR marker. The predictive ability of IR indexes is gender-specific, being TyG-BMI the only index able to predict functional decline in women and HOMA-IR in men.

Association of the triglyceride glucose index with myocardial ischemia in patients with minimal to moderate coronary artery disease

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index has been suggested as a reliable substitute to indicate insulin resistance. Several studies have identified the association between the TyG index and cardiovascular disease. However, the association between the TyG index and the incidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with minimal to moderate coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been clearly assessed. We aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index and the incidence of myocardial ischemia in patients with minimal to moderate CAD. A total of 1,697 patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations and had minimal to moderate CAD were retrospectively included in the study. The TyG index and computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) were used to assess insulin resistance (IR) and myocardial ischemia, respectively. Myocardial ischemia was defined as a CT-FFR value ≤ 0.80. Logistic regression models were used to explore the associations between the TyG index and myocardial ischemia. The incidence of myocardial ischemia was higher in the highest TyG index tertile (T3) group than in the lowest TyG index tertile (T1) group. After adjusting for other variables, the T3 group remained associated with a higher risk of myocardial ischemia than the T1 group did (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01-2.04; p = 0.047). A 1- standard deviation (SD) increase in the TyG index was correlated with a 19-24% elevated risk of myocardial ischemia when regarding the TyG index was considered as a continuous variable. Subgroup analysis revealed similar effects. A TyG index is associated with a higher risk of myocardial ischemia detected by CT-FFR in patients with minimal to moderate CAD.

The triglyceride glucose: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is associated with coronary artery calcification evaluated via non-gated chest CT

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a common risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Although triglyceride glucose (TYG) index and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) are both associated with CAC, no study has evaluated the correlation between the TYG/HDL-c ratio and CAC. In the present study, we investigated the relationships between CAC and the TYG index and the TYG/HDL-c ratio.

METHODS

A total of 9585 participants who underwent computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer from 2018 to 2020 were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic data, laboratory test data and medical history data were collected from medical records. TYG = Ln[fasting glucose (mg/dL)×fasting TG (mg/dL/2]. The triglyceride glucose-HDL-c ratio was calculated as TYG/HDL-c. CAC was evaluated on chest CT images. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines were used to determine the relationships among the TYG index, TYG/HDL-c ratio and risk of CAC. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of the TYG index and TYG/HDL-c ratio in identifying CACs in individuals aged 60 years and above.

RESULTS

CAC was detected in 2515 of 9585 participants (mean age 51.8 ± 15.5 years, 61.2% men). The prevalence of CAC was significantly greater in participants with a high TYG/HDL-c ratio (32.6% in the fourth quartile vs. 19.1% in the first quartile, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that both the TYG index (odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.10) and the TYG/HDL-c ratio were associated with coronary artery calcification (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.14-1.51). No such association was observed between the TYG index and CAC when further adjusted for the serum lipid level (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.99-1.54). The TYG/HDL-c ratio was still associated with CAC after further adjustment for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.09-1.35). TYG/HDL-c ratio was associated both with single vessel and multivessel calcification (OR = 1.14, 95%CI:1.05-1.23; OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.05-1.21). Similar trends were observed when we categorized individuals by TYG index and TYG/HDL-c quartiles and in subjects older than 60 years. Restricted cubic splines revealed that the TYG/HDL ratio had a better dose‒responsive relationship than did the TYG index. Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between the TYG/HDL-c ratio and coronary artery calcification was mainly observed in nondiabetic or nonhypertensive participants, regardless of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The ROC curve also revealed that the TYG/HDL-c ratio was better able to identify CAC than the TYG index was (area under the curve = 0.54 vs. 0.52, p < 0.01) in subjects older than 60 years.

CONCLUSION

An increase in the TYG/HDL-c ratio is significantly positively associated with the risk of CAC, and the TYG/HDL-c ratio has a more stable association with CAC than TYG.

Association of triglyceride-glucose index and its combination with obesity indicators in predicting the risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection

Background

The association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its combination with obesity indictors in aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between TyG and TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC), TyG-waist height ratio (TyG-WHtR) and AAD risk.

Methods

This study included 387,483 baseline participants from the UK Biobank with complete data on TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC and TyG-WHtR. Cox proportional hazard models evaluated the relationship between these four indicators and the risk of AAD occurrence. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) examined the non-linear relationship between these indicators and AAD risk, while receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed the predictive value of these four indicators for AAD risk.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 13.7 years, 3,041 AAD events were recorded. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that for each standard deviation increase, the risk of AAD occurrence increased by 33% (HR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.29-1.38), 25% (HR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.21-1.29), 61% (HR: 1.61, 95%CI: 1.56-1.66) and 44% (HR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.39-1.49) for TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC and TyG-WHtR, respectively. RCS demonstrated a linear relationship between these indicators and AAD risk, with TyG-WC demonstrating the best performance in predicting AAD occurrence based on ROC curves.

Conclusion

The present study, based on a large prospective cohort design, showed that higher TyG index and its combination with obesity indices were significantly associated with the risk of AAD. Moreover, AFT models further showed that elevation of these indicators significantly advanced the onset of AAD. In addition, RCS analyses demonstrated a linear association between these indicators and the risk of AAD, and the TyG-WC showed higher predictive ability for AAD. These findings emphasize the potential application of the TyG index and its combination with obesity indicators in the early identification of AAD.

The association between triglyceride-glucose index and gallstones: NHANES 2017-2020

Objects

It remains unclear whether the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has correlations with gallstones. This study aimed to investigate the association between TyG index and gallstones.

Methods

Data was obtained from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Participants who provided complete data about TyG index and gallstones were included in the analysis. Multivariable regression analysis and subgroup analysis were preformed to estimate the relationship between TyG index and gallstones. Restricted cubic splines (RSC) was employed to calculate the cut off value.

Results

The TyG index was independently associated with gallstones and demonstrates a clear positive correlation (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01-1.21; p = 0.033). The threshold value is 8.98, showing a positive correlation between TyG index and gallstones when the TyG index is less than 8.98 (Log likelihood ratio P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicates that the correlation between TyG and gallstones is mainly observed in individuals with obesity, females, younger individuals, and those with normal blood sugar levels, with these subgroups all acting as mediators between TyG and gallstones.

Conclusions

Higher TyG index was linked to a higher chance of developing gallstones. Managing insulin resistance (IR) could help reduce the risk of gallstones since the TyG index is an indicator of IR.

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and spine fracture: A cross-sectional study of American adults

It is yet unknown how spine fracture in adults relate to the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index. This study investigated the link between TyG index and spine fracture in the adult population of the United States by analyzing information derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Ultimately, this study comprised 10,187 participants was drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2010, 2013-2014, and 2017-2020). The Participants were divided into quartiles by the TyG index, and correlations between the TyG index and spine fracture were found using subgroup statistical analysis, restricted cubic spline curves, receiver operating characteristic analysis, and weighted multiple regression. Eventually, we carried 10,187 individuals, of whom 211 (2.1%) had an incident spine fracture. The results of the adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that the TyG index increased the morbidity of spine fracture (odds ratios: 1.63, 95% confidence intervals: 1.15-2.30, P = .01) and the outcome of the stratified and sensitivity analyses remained stable and indicative of a nonlinear relationship. The findings of our study indicate that an elevated TyG index is associated with an increased susceptibility to spine fracture and demonstrates a moderate level of predictive capability.

Retrospective cohort evaluation study in terms of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in chronic hepatitis B patients

Background

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and nucleotide analogues [entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)] used in its treatment have been shown to affect metabolic parameters in many studies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of metabolic events associated with CHB and nucleotide analogues (NAs) used in CHB treatment on ischemic heart diseases (IHD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted between June 2022 and January 2024 with a total of 241 patients diagnosed with non-cirrhotic CHB in the gastroenterology outpatient clinic, 96 of whom did not receive hepatitis B treatment, 110 of whom received TDF, and 35 of whom received ETV treatment. Patients were evaluated in terms of metabolic, CVD, and hepatology depending on whether they received antiviral treatment or not. In our study, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) were calculated in patients to evaluate potential risk factors for CVD. Again, while the total cholesterol-to-HDL-C ratio (TC/HDL-C), which is associated with CVD\IHD, was evaluated, the '4-factor fibrosis index' (FIB-4) score, which is a non-invasive indicator of liver fibrosis, was also evaluated.

Results

Diabetes mellitus (DM), fasting blood sugar (FBS), oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) usage rate, and insulin usage rate were high in patients receiving ETV treatment. The TyG index of patients receiving ETV was higher than patients in the other group (p = 0.035; p<0.05). It was determined that the probability of detecting ETV treatment in patients with a TG/HDL-C ratio of ≥1.82 cut-off value was 4.250 times higher. The odds ratio for TG/HDL-C measurements was 4.250 (95% CI: 1.384-13.054). FIB-4 score, which is a non-invasive indicator of liver fibrosis, was found to be higher in patients receiving ETV than in other groups.

Conclusion

In patients with CHB, a relationship was observed between markers used to predict CVD risk, such as the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio. The group with high levels of these two markers and a high potential for developing CVD was patients receiving ETV treatment. In this first study in the literature showing the relationship between CHB and CVD, we found that the relative risk of CVD was increased in patients using ETV.

Association between TyG index and risk of carotid atherosclerosis in NAFLD patients: a retrospective cohort study

Background

The TyG index, or triglyceride-glucose index, is primarily used as a marker to assess insulin resistance and metabolic health. It increases mortality risk in patients with NAFLD, atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, or heart failure. However, its association with Carotid Atherosclerosis (CAS) risk in NAFLD patients remains uncertain.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study enrolled 739 individuals who participated comprehensive health evaluations at a large public hospital in Yangzhou, China, between January 2021 and December 2023. Among them, 436 were men and 303 were women, and their mean (SD) age was 51.53 ± 11.46 years. The individuals were categorized into three tertiles (Q1, Q2, and Q3), according to the baseline TyG index. Our investigation focused on exploring the correlativity between the TyG and the occurrence of CAS utilizing Cox regression and RCS analyses.

Results

During a 3-year follow-up period, 199 patients developed CAS (cumulative incidence rate: 26.93%). A statistical model, adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and other confounders indicated that the HR (95%CI) values for CAS risk in the Q2 and Q3 groups were 3.11(1.87-5.17) and 4.51(2.69-7.56), respectively, with P-values <0.001 for both groups. A sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that CAS risk varied across the groups (P non-linear < 0.05).

Conclusion

In individuals diagnosed as NAFLD, the possibility for CAS escalates with the elevation of the TyG value. Therefore, the TyG index is an effective marker for assessing the risk of CAS within this demographic. Large-sample prospective studies are needed to confirm this conclusion in the future.

Association between triglyceride glycemic index and gout in US adults

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) has been linked to the development of gout. The triglyceride glycemic (TyG) index is a useful biomarker of IR, and the evidences between TyG and gout are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between the TyG index and gout in the United States (U.S).

METHODS

The cross-sectional study was conducted among adults with complete TyG index and gout data in the 2007-2017 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The TyG index was calculated as fasting triglycerides (mg/dl) * fasting glucose (mg/dl)/2. Gout was assessed by self-report questionnaire (MCQ160n). Weighted chi-squared and weighted Student's t-test were used to assess group differences. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and interaction tests were used to examine the TyG index and gout association.

RESULTS

The final participants were 11,768; 5910 (50.32%) were female, 7784 (73.26%) were 18-60 years old, 5232 (69.63%) were white, and 573 (5.12%) had gout. After adjusting for all covariates, the TyG index was positively associated with gout; each unit increase in TyG index was associated with 40% higher odds of gout (odds ratio (OR), 1.40; 95% CI: 1.82-2.66; p < 0.0001). Participants in the highest TyG index tertile group were at high risk of gout (odds ratio (OR), 1.64; 95% CI: 1.06-2.54, p = 0.03) versus those in the lowest tertile group. Interaction tests showed no significant effect of age, race, marital status, PIR level, education, BMI, smoking status, drinking status, hypertension, and DM on this association between TyG index and gout (p for interaction > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cross-sectional study, our results suggested that a higher TyG index was associated with an increased likelihood of gout in U.S. adults. Our findings highlight that the TyG index is a reliable biomarker of IR; management of IR among adults may prevent or alleviate the development of gout; meanwhile, the TyG index may be a simple and cost-effective method to detect gout.

Association Between Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Waist-To-Hip Ratio with Type 2 Diabetic Retinopathy in the Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index serves as a convenient indicator of insulin resistance, which has been demonstrated to be associated with diabetic retinopathy(DR). However, the relationship between TyG-WHR, a novel index combining TyG with the central obesity indicator WHR, and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between TyG-WHR and DR in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 1702 patients with T2DM. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between TyG-WHR and DR. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was utilized to assess the predictive efficacy of TyG-WHR for DR.

RESULTS

Patients in higher TyG-WHR quartiles demonstrated an increased presence of DR, and TyG-WHR increased with the severity of DR. Moreover, TyG-WHR remained significantly associated with a higher odds ratio (OR) for DR (OR 1.223, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.078-1.387, p < 0.05) after multivariate adjustment. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the optimal cutoff value for TyG-WHR in predicting DR presence was 8.8983, with a sensitivity of 61.00%, specificity of 48.50%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.555.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with T2DM, TyG-WHR was significantly elevated in those with DR and independently associated with an increased risk of DR presence in Chinese patients. This implies that TyG-WHR could potentially serve as a valuable and dependable biomarker for DR, underscoring the importance of giving greater consideration to T2DM patients with elevated TyG-WHR to effectively prevent and mitigate the onset of DR and associated adverse health outcomes.

The triglyceride-glucose index is a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease and psoriasis: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and clinical outcomes in patients with both coronary artery disease (CAD) and psoriasis is unclear. This study investigated the association between the TyG index and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with both CAD and psoriasis.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with both CAD and psoriasis who underwent coronary angiography at the Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China, between January 2017 and May 2022. The study endpoint was the occurrence of MACE or end of follow-up time. Multivariate Cox proportional analysis and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to determine the association between the TyG index and MACE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal threshold value of the TyG index for predicting MACE.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 293 patients with both CAD and psoriasis, including 258 (88.1%) males with a mean age of 58.89 ± 9.61 years. Patients were divided into four groups based on the TyG quartiles: Q1 (N = 74), Q2 (N = 73), Q3 (N = 73), and Q4 (N = 73). After adjusting for the potential confounders, the TyG index was independently associated with MACE, both as a continuous variable (HR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.03-2.28, P = 0.035) and as a categorical variable (Q1: reference; Q2: HR = 1.85, 95% CI = 0.88-3.87, P = 0.105; Q3: HR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.14-5.00, P = 0.021; Q4: HR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.001-4.81, P = 0.0497; P for trend = 0.039). RCS analysis showed an linear association between the TyG index and MACE (P-overall = 0.027, P-non-linear = 0.589). ROC curve analysis showed that the TyG index of ≥ 8.73 was the optimal threshold value (area under the ROC curve = 0.60, 95% CI 0.53-0.67). TyG index ≥ 8.73 was significantly associated with MACE (HR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.32-3.34, P = 0.002). After adjustment for confounders, the TyG index showed independent association with MACE (HR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.17-3.42, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG index showed a positive linear correlation with MACE in patients with both CAD and psoriasis. The TyG index of ≥ 8.73 might be the optimal threshold for predicting MACE.

[Triglyceride-glucose index in non-obese individuals: its association with and predictive value for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its diagnostic value for NAFLD in non-obese individuals.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected the data of non-obese individuals (BMI < 25 kg/m2) undergoing routine health examination at Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between May, 2020 and December, 2023, who all received abdominal ultrasound examination for NAFLD screening. The nonlinear relationship between TyG and non-obese NAFLD was explored using restricted cubic splines (RCS), and LASSO regression was used for variable screening; the correlation between TyG and NAFLD risk was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. The diagnostic value of TyG for non-obese NAFLD was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 3723 non-obese subjects were enrolled in this study, including 432 (11.6%) patients with NAFLD. Compared with the healthy individuals, the patients with NAFLD had significant elevations of systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, blood uric acid, fasting blood glucose, and TyG index and a decreased HDL-C level (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that for each one-unit increase of TyG, the risk of non-obese NAFLD increased by 2.2 folds (OR=3.22, 95% CI: 2.53-4.12, P < 0.001). Compared with a TyG index in the lowest quartile Q1, a TyG index in the Q2, Q3 and Q4 quartiles was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD by 1.52 folds (OR=2.52, 95% CI: 1.20-5.95), 3.56 folds (OR=4.56, 95% CI: 2.28-10.46), and 8.66-folds (OR=9.66, 95% CI: 4.83-22.18), respectively. The RCS curve demonstrated a significant linear correlation between TyG index and non-obese NALFD risk (P for nonlinear= 0.019). For diagnosing non-obese NALFD, TyG index had an area under ROC curve of 0.819 with a sensitivity of 78.0% and a specificity of 71.2%.

CONCLUSION

An increase of TyG index is correlated with increased risks of NAFLD in non-obese individuals and can serve as an indicator for screening early NAFLD in healthy individuals.

Systemic impacts of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) on heart, muscle, and kidney related diseases

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common liver disorder worldwide, with an estimated global prevalence of more than 31%. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a progressive form of MASLD characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the extrahepatic manifestations of MASH, focusing on chronic diseases related to the cardiovascular, muscular, and renal systems. A systematic review of published studies and literature was conducted to summarize the findings related to the systemic impacts of MASLD and MASH. The review focused on the association of MASLD and MASH with metabolic comorbidities, cardiovascular mortality, sarcopenia, and chronic kidney disease. Mechanistic insights into the concept of lipotoxic inflammatory "spill over" from the MASH-affected liver were also explored. MASLD and MASH are highly associated (50%-80%) with other metabolic comorbidities such as impaired insulin response, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension. Furthermore, more than 90% of obese patients with type 2 diabetes have MASH. Data suggest that in middle-aged individuals (especially those aged 45-54), MASLD is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, sarcopenia, and chronic kidney disease. The concept of lipotoxic inflammatory "spill over" from the MASH-affected liver plays a crucial role in mediating the systemic pathological effects observed. Understanding the multifaceted impact of MASH on the heart, muscle, and kidney is crucial for early detection and risk stratification. This knowledge is also timely for implementing comprehensive disease management strategies addressing multi-organ involvement in MASH pathogenesis.

TG/HDL-C ratio is positively associated with risk and severity of CHD among NAFLD patients: a case control study

Objective

This study aimed to explore the association between the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio and the risk and severity of CHD among NAFLD patients.

Methods

This retrospective study included 278 patients with NAFLD and chest pain. The TG/HDL-C ratio was calculated and coronary angiography performed. All individuals were divided into NAFLD + CHD and NAFLD groups. The severity of coronary artery stenosis is quantified using the Gensini score based on angiographic results. In NAFLD patients, the association between the TG/HDL-C ratio and the risk and severity of CHD was explored.

Results

CHD was detected in 139 of 278 patients. Compared to NAFLD group, multivariate logistic regression showed that TG/HDL-C ratio was a risk factor for CHD among NAFLD patients after adjustment for confounding factors with the odds ratio (OR 1.791, 95% CI 1.344-2.386, P<0.001). Further analysis using multivariate logistic regression based on tertiles revealed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, compared to the T1 group, the risk of CHD in the T2 group was 2.17-fold higher (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.07-4.38; P = 0.031). Similarly, the risk of CHD in the T3 group increased by 2.84-fold (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.36-5.94; P = 0.005). The multifactor linear regression analysis showed each 1-unit increase in TG/HDL-C ratio in the NAFLD + CHD group was associated with a 7.75-point increase in Gensini score (β=7.75, 95% CI 5.35-10.15, P<0.001).

Conclusion

The TG/HDL-C ratio was positively correlated with CHD risk and reflected coronary atherosclerosis severity in NAFLD patients.

The roles of lipids and inflammation in the association between the triglyceride-glucose index and arterial stiffness: evidence from two large population-based surveys

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a risk marker for arterial stiffness; however, the extent to which the TyG index is associated with arterial stiffness via lipids and inflammation remains unknown. The first aim was to probe the relationship between the TyG index and arterial stiffness in two surveys. The second aim was to clarify whether lipids and inflammation mediate this relationship.

METHODS

The sample size of 13,726 U.S. individuals from the National Examination Survey (NHANES) and 3,964 Chinese individuals from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2015) were enrolled. Weighted multivariate logistic and linear regression models, as well as restricted cubic spline (RCS) and mediation analyses, were utilized to estimate complex relationships between the TyG index, arterial stiffness, lipids (non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [non-HDL-C]) and inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]) biomarkers.

RESULTS

A total of 3,420 U.S. patients and 992 Chinese patients were diagnosed with increased arterial stiffness. Regression analyses demonstrated that higher quartiles of the TyG index were associated with a greater incidence of increased arterial stiffness (NHANES: OR = 2.610, 95% CI = 2.043-3.334, P < 0.001; CHARLS: OR = 1.579, 95% CI = 1.057-2.360, P < 0.001). Participants with a higher TyG index/higher CRP level or with a higher TyG index/higher non-HDL-C level had the highest incidence of increased arterial stiffness in the two surveys. The results were still consistent when the sensitivity analysis was implemented with stricter clinical cut-off values of non-HDL-C. Mediation analysis verified that lipids (mediated effect: β = 0.012, P < 0.001 in NHANES; β = 0.020, P < 0.001 in CHARLS) and inflammation (mediated effect: β = 0.003, P < 0.001 in NHANES; β = 0.006, P < 0.001 in CHARLS) partially mediated this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated a positive linear correlation between the TyG index, non-HDL-C level, CRP level and increased arterial stiffness in two surveys. Furthermore, lipids and inflammation could partly mediate the correlation of the TyG index with arterial stiffness in both surveys.

The impact of triglyceride-glucose index on the prognosis of post-PCI patients-a meta-analysis

Background

Previous research has demonstrated the validity of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index as a robust measure of insulin resistance (IR) and its association with coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of this study is to elucidate the relationship between the TyG index and the prognosis of patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Our goal is to provide a thorough analysis of the available evidence to offer more clarity on this association.

Methods

A systematic and thorough search was carried out in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, covering studies published in English from the beginning until October 1, 2023. The focus of the search was to gather relevant studies pertaining to the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). To address the variability among the included studies, random or fixed effect models were utilized to summarize the hazard ratios (HR). In cases where heterogeneity was detected, subgroup or sensitivity analyses were performed to explore potential sources. To evaluate publication bias, the Egger or Begg test was employed.

Results

This study incorporated a total of 17 studies. Individuals with the highest TyG index exhibited an elevated risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) compared to those with the lowest TyG index (HR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.47-1.95; P < 0.001). When analyzing the TyG index as a continuous variable, each standard deviation increase was associated with an HR of 1.60 (95% CI: 1.48-1.73; P < 0.001). Moreover, in patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), higher TyG index levels showed a trend of increased risk of MACE (HR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.27-1.86; P < 0.001). Furthermore, an elevated TyG index was found to be associated with a higher risk of in-stent restenosis (HR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.29-2.03; P < 0.001), new-onset atrial fibrillation (HR = 2.97; 95% CI: 2.10-4.06; P = 0.014), and a reduction in quantitative flow ratio (HR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.101-1.592; P = 0.005). Subgroup analysis indicated the risk of MACE was comparable between varied durations of follow-up (P = 0.11). Furthermore, regression analysis revealed that the positive association between TyG index and the risk of MACE did not differ between individuals with or without diabetes (P = 0.23).

Conclusion

An increase in the TyG index may lead to a higher vulnerability to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients underwent PCI and there was no significant difference in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

The threshold effect of triglyceride glucose index on diabetic kidney disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes: unveiling a non-linear association

Background

Previous studies have confirmed that the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, recognized as a reliable marker of insulin resistance, is an important risk factor for diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, it is still unclear whether the DKD risk continues to increase linearly with the elevation of TyG index. This study aimed to thoroughly investigated the intrinsic relationship between TyG index and DKD risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 933 patients with T2D in China, who were categorized into DKD and non-DKD groups and stratified by TyG index levels. Logistic regression analysis identified the independent risk factors for DKD. The association between DKD risk and TyG index was evaluated using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves analysis. The R package 'CatPredi' was utilized to determine the optimal cut-off point for the relationship between DKD risk and TyG index, followed by threshold effect analysis.

Results

The prevalence of DKD was 33.01%. After adjusting for confounding factors, TyG index was identified as a prominent clinical risk factor for DKD, showing the highest odds ratio (OR 1.57 (1.26 - 1.94), P<0.001). RCS analysis revealed a non-linear relationship with a threshold interval effect between the TyG index and DKD risk. When TyG index ≤ 9.35, DKD risk plateaued at a low level; however, when TyG index > 9.35, DKD risk increased gradually with rising TyG index. Among patients with TyG index > 9.35, each 1-unit increase was associated with a 1.94-fold increased DKD risk (OR=1.94 (1.10 - 3.43), P=0.022).

Conclusion

The DKD risk presented a threshold effect with the increase of TyG index, initially stable at a low level, and then gradually rising when the TyG index is above 9.35.

The role of hydrogen in the prevention and treatment of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease

Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD) is a primary cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis (AS), which is characterized by chronic inflammation and lipid oxidative deposition. Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an effective anti-inflammatory agent and has potential to ameliorate glycolipid metabolism disorders, which is believed to exert beneficial effects on the prevention and treatment of CHD. It is suggested that H2 reduces inflammation in CHD by regulating multiple pathways, including NF-κB inflammatory pathway, pyroptosis, mitophagy, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and Nrf2 antioxidant pathway. Additionally, H2 may improve glycolipid metabolism by mediation of PI3K and AMPK signalling pathways, contributing to inhibition of the occurrence and development of CHD. This review elaborates pathogenesis of CHD and evaluates the role of H2 in CHD. Moreover, possible molecular mechanisms have been discussed and speculated, aiming to provide more strategies and directions for subsequent studies of H2 in CHD.

Association between triglyceride glucose-waist to height ratio and coronary heart disease: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

The Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index-related indicators improve risk stratification by identifying individuals prone to atherosclerosis early in life. This study aimed to examine the relation between TyG-waist circumference-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR) and coronary heart disease.

METHODS

Data from four National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) cycles between 2011 and 2018 were used for a cross-sectional study. The association between TyG-WHtR and coronary heart disease risk was examined using a multifactorial logistic regression model, and corresponding subgroup analyses were performed. Nonlinear correlations were analyzed using smooth curve fitting and threshold effects analysis. When nonlinear connections were discovered, appropriate inflection points were investigated using recursive methods.

RESULTS

TyG-WHtR and coronary heart disease were significantly positively correlated in the multifactorial logistic regression analysis. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests revealed that gender, age, smoking status, and cancer were not significantly associated with this correlation (P for interaction > 0.05). Furthermore, utilizing threshold effect analysis and smooth curve fitting, a nonlinear connection with an inflection point of 0.36 was observed between TyG-WHtR and coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this study, the American population is far more likely to have coronary heart disease if they have higher TyG-WHtR levels.

Prognostic effect of triglyceride glucose-related parameters on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the United States adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUNDS

Insulin resistance (IR) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, it remains unclear whether triglyceride-glucose (TyG) related parameters, which serve as useful biomarkers to assess IR, have prognostic effects on mortality outcomes of MASLD.

METHODS

Participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 1999 to 2018 years were included. TyG and its related parameters [TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC) and TyG-waist to height ratio (TyG-WHtR)] were calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression analysis, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were conducted to evaluate the association between TyG-related indices with the all-cause and cardiovascular mortality of adults with MASLD. The concordance index (C-index) was used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of TyG-related indices.

RESULTS

A total of 8208 adults (4209 men and 3999 women, median age 49.00 years) with MASLD were included in this study. Multivariate-adjusted Cox regression analysis revealed that high quartile levels of TyG-related indices were significantly associated with the all-cause mortality of participants with MASLD [TyGadjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.50, P = 0.014; TyG-WCaHR for all-cause mortality = 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.52, P = 0.006; TyG-WHtRaHR for all-cause mortality = 1.50, 95% CI 1.25-1.80, P < 0.001; TyG-WCaHR for cardiovascular mortality = 1.81, 95% CI 1.28-2.55, P = 0.001; TyG-WHtRaHR for cardiovascular mortality = 2.22, 95% CI 1.55-3.17, P < 0.001]. The C-index of TyG-related indices for predicting all-cause mortality was 0.563 for the TyG index, 0.579 for the TyG-WC index, and 0.585 for the TyG-WHtR index, respectively. Regarding cardiovascular mortality, the C-index was 0.561 for the TyG index, 0.607 for the TyG-WC index, and 0.615 for the TyG-WHtR index, respectively. Nonlinear trends were observed between TyG and TyG-WC indices with all-cause mortality of MASLD (P < 0.001 and = 0.012, respectively). A non-linear relationship was observed between the TyG index and cardiovascular mortality of MASLD (P = 0.025). Subgroup analysis suggested that adults aged < 65 years old and those without comorbidities were more sensitive to the mortality prediction of TyG-related indices.

CONCLUSION

Findings of this study highlight the predictive value of TyG-related indices, especially the TyG-WHtR index, in the mortality outcomes of adults with MASLD. TyG-related indices would be surrogate biomarkers for the clinical management of MASLD.

Triglyceride-glucose index is associated with myocardial ischemia and poor prognosis in patients with ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is increasingly recognized and associated with poor outcomes. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable alternative measure of insulin resistance significantly linked to cardiovascular disease and adverse prognosis. We investigated the association between the TyG index and myocardial ischemia and the prognosis in INOCA patients.

METHODS

INOCA patients who underwent both coronary angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) were included consecutively. All participants were divided into three groups according to TyG tertiles (T1, T2, and T3). Abnormal MPI for myocardial ischemia in individual coronary territories was defined as summed stress score (SSS) ≥ 4 and summed difference score (SDS) ≥ 2. SSS refers to the sum of all defects in the stress images, and SDS is the difference of the sum of all defects between the rest images and stress images. All patients were followed up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

RESULTS

Among 332 INOCA patients, 113 (34.0%) had abnormal MPI. Patients with higher TyG index had a higher rate of abnormal MPI (25.5% vs. 32.4% vs. 44.1%; p = 0.012). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that a high TyG index was significantly correlated with abnormal MPI in INOCA patients (OR, 1.901; 95% CI, 1.045-3.458; P = 0.035). During the median 35 months of follow-up, 83 (25%) MACE were recorded, and a higher incidence of MACE was observed in the T3 group (T3 vs. T2 vs. T1: 36.9% vs. 21.6% vs. 16.4%, respectively; p = 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the T3 group was significantly associated with the risk of MACE compared to the T1 group (HR, 2.338; 95% CI 1.253-4.364, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

This study indicates for the first time that the TyG index is significantly associated with myocardial ischemia and poor prognosis among INOCA patients.

Relationship between preoperative high triglyceride-glucose index and myocardial injury following non-cardiac surgery in advanced-age patients: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is a common and insidious postoperative complication. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and MINS in advanced-age patients.

METHODS

We performed a single-center retrospective study including patients ≥ 65 years of age who underwent non-cardiac surgery. The relationship between TyG and MINS was investigated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Multivariate logistic regression analysis involved three models: Model I adjusted for preoperative factors, Model II adjusted for surgery-related factors, and Model III adjusted for both preoperative and surgery-related factors. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce the confounding effects of covariates. Subgroup analyses were then performed to evaluate the relationship between TyG and MINS in various subsamples.

RESULTS

A total of 7789 patients were studied, among whom 481 (6.2%) developed MINS. A cut-off value of TyG of 8.57 was determined using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to be associated with the best predictive performance. Participants with TyG ≥ 8.57 were at a higher risk of developing MINS than those with TyG < 8.57 [n = 273 (7.6%) vs. n = 208 (4.9%), respectively; p < 0.001]. The univariate analysis showed that TyG ≥ 8.57 was significantly associated with MINS in elderly patients [odds ratio (OR): 1.58; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.32-1.91; p < 0.001)]. In multivariate logistic regression, adjustments were made for risk factors including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, coronary heart disease, and duration of surgery, etc. The adjusted ORs for TyG ≥ 8.57 were 1.46 (95%CI: 1.17-1.82), p = 0.001; 1.46 (95%CI: 1.19-1.77), p < 0.001; and 1.43 (95%CI: 1.13-1.81), p = 0.003, in the three multivariate models, respectively. The relationship remained after PSM (adjusted OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03-1.78, p = 0.029). Furthermore, the relationship between TyG and MINS remained in a number of subgroups in the sensitivity analyses, but not in participants with peripheral vascular stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A preoperative high TyG (≥ 8.57) is associated with a higher risk of MINS in advanced-age patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Lipid-based insulin-resistance markers predict cardiovascular events in metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) is the cornerstone of Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), pathophysiologically being the key link between MASLD, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular (CV) diseases. There are no prospective studies comparing the predictive values of different markers of insulin resistance (IR) in identifying the presence of MASLD and the associated risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs).

METHODS

Post hoc analysis of the prospective Plinio Study, involving dysmetabolic patients evaluated for the presence of MASLD. The IR markers considered were Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR (HOMA-IR), Triglycerides-Glycemia (TyG) index, Triglycerides to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI). Receiver operative characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to find the optimal cut-offs of each IR marker for detecting MASLD and predicting CVEs in MASLD patients. Logistic and Cox multivariable regression analyses were performed, after dichotomizing the IR markers based on the optimal cut-offs, to assess the factors independently associated with MASLD and the risk of CVEs.

RESULTS

The study included 772 patients (age 55.6 ± 12.1 years, 39.4% women), of whom 82.8% had MASLD. VAI (Area Under the Curve [AUC] 0.731), TyG Index (AUC 0.723), and TG/HDL-C ratio (AUC: 0.721) predicted MASLD but was greater with HOMA-IR (AUC: 0.792) and LAP (AUC: 0.787). After a median follow-up of 48.7 (25.4-75.8) months, 53 MASLD patients experienced CVEs (1.8%/year). TyG index (AUC: 0.630), LAP (AUC: 0.626), TG/HDL-C (AUC: 0.614), and VAI (AUC: 0.590) demonstrated comparable, modest predictive values in assessing the CVEs risk in MASLD patients.

CONCLUSION

In dysmetabolic patients HOMA-IR and LAP showed the best accuracy in detecting MASLD. The possible use of lipid-based IR markers in stratifying the CV risk in patients with MASLD needs further validation in larger cohorts.

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome: results from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC)-Acute Coronary Syndrome project

OBJECTIVE

Although the TyG index is a reliable predictor of insulin resistance (IR) and cardiovascular disease, its effectiveness in predicting major adverse cardiac events in hospitalized acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients has not been validated in large-scale studies. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between the TyG index and the occurrence of MACEs during hospitalization.

METHODS

We recruited ACS patients from the CCC-ACS (Improving Cardiovascular Care in China-ACS) database and calculated the TyG index using the formula ln(fasting triglyceride [mg/dL] × fasting glucose [mg/dL]/2). These patients were classified into four groups based on quartiles of the TyG index. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of MACEs during hospitalization, encompassing all-cause mortality, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to clarify the correlation between the TyG index and the risk of in-hospital MACEs among patients diagnosed with ACS. Additionally, we explored this relationship across various subgroups.

RESULTS

A total of 101,113 patients were ultimately included, and 2759 in-hospital MACEs were recorded, with 1554 (49.1%) cases of all-cause mortality, 601 (21.8%) cases of cardiac arrest, 251 (9.1%) cases of MI, and 353 (12.8%) cases of stroke. After adjusting for confounders, patients in TyG index quartile groups 3 and 4 showed increased risks of in-hospital MACEs compared to those in quartile group 1 [HR = 1.253, 95% CI 1.121-1.400 and HR = 1.604, 95% CI 1.437-1.791, respectively; p value for trend < 0.001], especially in patients with STEMI or renal insufficiency. Moreover, we found interactions between the TyG index and age, sex, diabetes status, renal insufficiency status, and previous PCI (all p values for interactions < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with ACS, the TyG index was an independent predictor of in-hospital MACEs. Special vigilance should be exercised in females, elderly individuals, and patients with renal insufficiency.

Association between the triglyceride glucose index and obstructive sleep apnea and its symptoms: results from the NHANES

BACKGROUND

Certain studies have indicated a link between obstructive sleep apnea and insulin resistance in specific populations. To gain more clarity, extensive research involving a broad sample of the overall population is essential. The primary objective of this study was to investigate this correlation by utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database.

METHODS

The analysis incorporated data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database spanning the time periods from 2005 to 2008 and from 2015 to 2018, with a focus on American adults aged 18 years and older after applying weight adjustments. Key variables such as obstructive sleep apnea, triglyceride glucose index, and various confounding factors were considered. A generalized linear logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea and the triglyceride glucose index, with additional exploration of the consistency of the results through hierarchical analysis and other techniques.

RESULTS

The study included participants aged between 18 and 90 years, with an average age of 46.75 years. Among the total sample, 50.76% were male. The triglyceride glucose index demonstrated a diagnostic capability for obstructive sleep apnea, with an AUC of 0.701 (95% CI: 0.6619-0.688). According to the fully adjusted model, individuals in the fourth quartile of the triglyceride glucose index showed an increased likelihood of having obstructive sleep apnea compared to those in the first quartile (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.02-2.06; P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis indicated that male sex (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.76-2.45; P < 0.05), younger age (OR: 2.83; 95% CI: 2.02-3.96; P < 0.05), white ethnicity (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.93-2.73; P < 0.05), and obesity (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.28-1.85; P < 0.05) were correlated with an elevated risk of OSA.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated a strong association between an elevated TG index and OSA. Additionally, the triglyceride glucose index could serve as an independent predictor of obstructive sleep apnea.

Associations between cardiometabolic indices and the risk of diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to assess the associations between emerging cardiometabolic indices-the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR), the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)-and the incidence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

METHODS

We consecutively enrolled 4351 T2D patients. The AIP, SHR, TyG index, and HOMA-IR were calculated from baseline parameters. DKD was defined as a urine albumin/creatinine ratio > 30 mg/g or an eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m. All participants were categorized into tertiles based on the cardiometabolic indices. Multivariate logistic regression models, restricted cubic splines, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1371 (31.5%) patients were diagnosed with DKD. A restricted cubic spline showed a J-shaped association of the AIP and TyG index with DKD, a log-shaped association between HOMA-IR and DKD, and a U-shaped association between the SHR and DKD incidence. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that individuals in the highest tertile of the four cardiometabolic indices had a significantly greater risk of DKD than did those in the lowest tertile (AIP: OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02-1.14, P = 0.005; SHR: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.12-1.81, P = 0.004; TyG index: OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.42-2.45, P < 0.001; HOMA-IR: OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.52-3.30, P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the HOMA-IR score was better than other indices at predicting the risk of DKD, with an optimal cutoff of 3.532.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated AIP, SHR, TyG index and HOMA-IR are associated with a greater risk of DKD in patients with T2D. Among these indices, the HOMA-IR score demonstrated the strongest association with and predictive value for DKD incidence.

Correlation between alternative insulin resistance indexes and diabetic kidney disease: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between alternative insulin resistance (IR) indexes not reliant on insulin and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) incidence in a newly diagnosed cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of baseline characteristics in a cohort of 521 individuals with T2DM, then followed up on the outcome of DKD. To assess the predictive ability of IR indexes, we compared the performance of four non-insulin-based IR indexes and the homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) using logistic regression and consistency-statistics (C-statistics). Furthermore, we computed the net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) to evaluate the additional effects of the indexes.

RESULTS

The four alternative IR indexes of DKD patients were significantly higher than those of non-DKD. After adjustment for other variables, the highest tertile of all indexes was significantly related to DKD incidence, compared with the lowest tertile. Furthermore, the C-statistics for the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein ratio (TG/HDL) were all 0.652, while triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) were 0.639 and 0.651, respectively. The incorporation of the alternative IR indexes into the baseline model revealed positive additional effects, leading to an improved prediction of the risk for DKD.

CONCLUSIONS

It was discovered that the alternative IR indexes served as independent risk factors of DKD. Among the four alternative indexes, TyG index and TG/HDL had the best prediction performance for DKD, followed by METS-IR.

Association between the triglyceride glucose index and chronic total coronary occlusion: A cross-sectional study from southwest China

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Insulin resistance (IR) plays an important role in the atherosclerotic process, and the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a reliable indicator of IR and is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. However, there are few studies regarding the relationship between the TyG index and chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO). Herein, the correlation between the TyG index and CTO, as well as their interactions with other traditional cardiovascular risk factors, were investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled 2691 patients who underwent coronary angiography at Guangyuan Central Hospital from January 2019 to October 2021. TyG index results were used to create three groups using the trichotomous method. CTO was defined as complete occlusion of the coronary artery for ≥3 months. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, restricted cubic splines, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and subgroup analyses was performed. A significant correlation between the TyG index and CTO was noted. The risk of CTO was increased 2.09-fold in the group with the highest TyG compared with the lowest (OR, 2.09; 95 % CI, 1.05-4.17; P = 0.036). In addition, there was a linear dose-response relationship between the TyG index and CTO (nonlinear P = 0.614). The area under the ROC curve was 0.643 (95 % CI, 0.572-0.654). Using subgroup analyses, we observed that the TyG index was associated with a significantly higher risk of CTO in males and smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

An elevated TyG index was related to the risk of CTO and may constitute a meaningful predictor of CTO, particularly in males and in smokers.

Associations of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with chest pain incidence and mortality among the U.S. population

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index, a simple surrogate marker of insulin resistance, is related to cardiovascular disease. However, there is a lack of evidence for the relationship between the TyG index and chest pain. This study aimed to investigate the association of the TyG index with chest pain and to evaluate the relationship between the TyG index and all-cause mortality in participants with or without chest pain.

METHODS

The present study utilized data from the 2001-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), employing a combination of cross-sectional and cohort study designs. The association between the TyG index and chest pain was investigated using weighted logistic regression models. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to explore linear or nonlinear relationships between the TyG index and chest pain or all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

The findings revealed a positive correlation between the TyG index and chest pain, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors (quartile 4 versus quartile 1, odds ratio [OR] 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-1.77, P = 0.002). During a mean follow-up time of 139 months, a total of 2286 individuals (27.43%) experienced mortality. Weighted multivariate Cox regression models indicated that for each one-unit increase in the TyG index, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for mortality was 1.14 (95% CI = 0.94-1.37) for participants with chest pain and 1.25 (95% CI = 1.09-1.43) for those without chest pain. Furthermore, restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a linear relationship between the TyG index and chest pain (P for nonlinearity = 0.902), whereas a nonlinear relationship was shown between the TyG index and all-cause mortality among populations regardless of chest pain (all P for nonlinearity < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The TyG index was positively linked to a higher incidence of chest pain. Moreover, the TyG index was associated with all-cause mortality not only in participants with chest pain but also in those without chest pain.

Triglyceride-glucose index and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio predict the prognosis in patients with type B aortic dissection receiving thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Background

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-c) ratio are both reliable surrogate indicator of insulin resistance and have been shown to be valuable in predicting various cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have explored its association with the prognosis of type B aortic dissection (TBAD) patients receiving thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Methods

A total of 1,425 consecutive patients who underwent TEVAR were included. Data from 935 patients were analyzed in the study. The endpoint was defined as 30-day and 1-year aortic-related adverse events (ARAEs), all-cause mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs).

Results

There were 935 patients included during a mean follow-up time of 2.8 years. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, continuous TG/HDL-c [hazard ratio (HR) =1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.15; P=0.041] was independently associated with 1-year all-cause mortality. Both a high (Quintile 5: TG/HDL-c ratio ≥4.11) (HR =4.84; 95% CI: 1.55-15.13; P=0.007) and low TG/HDL-c ratio (Quintile 1: TG/HDL-c ratio <1.44) (HR =4.67; 95% CI: 1.46-14.94; P=0.001) were still independent risk factors for 1-year all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

Elevated baseline TG/HDL-c ratio and TG/HDL-c ≥4.11 were significantly related to a higher risk of 1-year all-cause mortality among TBAD patients undergoing TEVAR. At the same time, the low TG/HDL-c ratio was also independently associated with 1-year all-cause mortality. Special attention should be paid to TBAD patients with a higher or an overly low TG/HDL-c ratio.

Global epidemiology of type 2 diabetes in patients with NAFLD or MAFLD: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) shares common pathophysiological mechanisms with type 2 diabetes, making them significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The present study aimed to assess the epidemiological feature of type 2 diabetes in patients with NAFLD or MAFLD at global levels.

METHODS

Published studies were searched for terms that included type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD or MAFLD using PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases from their inception to December 2022. The pooled global and regional prevalence and incidence density of type 2 diabetes in patients with NAFLD or MAFLD were evaluated using random-effects meta-analysis. Potential sources of heterogeneity were investigated using stratified meta-analysis and meta-regression.

RESULTS

A total of 395 studies (6,878,568 participants with NAFLD; 1,172,637 participants with MAFLD) from 40 countries or areas were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of type 2 diabetes among NAFLD or MAFLD patients was 28.3% (95% confidence interval 25.2-31.6%) and 26.2% (23.9-28.6%) globally. The incidence density of type 2 diabetes in NAFLD or MAFLD patients was 24.6 per 1000-person year (20.7 to 29.2) and 26.9 per 1000-person year (7.3 to 44.4), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study describes the global prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes in patients with NAFLD or MAFLD. The study findings serve as a valuable resource to assess the global clinical and economic impact of type 2 diabetes in patients with NAFLD or MAFLD.

Impact of diabetes mellitus and triglyceride glucose index on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic coronary syndrome undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography

Background

There is limited knowledge regarding whether an elevated triglyceride glucose (TyG) index can serve as a prognostic marker for mortality and cardiovascular outcomes, independent of diabetes mellitus (DM) and plaque burden, in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).

Methods

Patients with CCS (n = 684) were categorized into subgroups based on the presence of DM, and patients without DM were further divided into two groups based on presence or absence of an elevation of TyG index >8.8. Coronary plaque burden was evaluated using coronary computed tomography angiography. Major cardiovascular adverse event (MACE) was defined as a composite event of nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina or unplanned coronary revascularization, stroke, non-cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

Patients without DM exhibited significantly greater plaque and epicardial adipose tissue volumes than those with DM. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models demonstrated that DM and an elevated TyG index >8.8 were independently associated with the risk of MACE after adjusting for age, sex, and plaque volume. Patients with DM (hazard ratio, 3.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.97-7.08; p < 0.001) and patients without DM with an elevated TyG index (hazard ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.91; p = 0.045) had an increased risk of MACE.

Conclusion

This study indicates that DM and an elevated TyG index are predictors of MACE, independent of plaque volume, in patients with CCS.

Assessment of the triglyceride glucose index in adult patients with chronic diarrhea and constipation

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR). However, the link between two of the most prevalent bowel disorders, chronic diarrhea and constipation, and the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, a marker of IR, has not yet been investigated.

AIM

To investigate the potential association between TyG and the incidence of chronic diarrhea and constipation.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 2400 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database from 2009-2010. TyG was used as an exposure variable, with chronic diarrhea and constipation as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale used as the outcome variables. A demographic investigation based on TyG quartile subgroups was performed. The application of multivariate logistic regression models and weighted generalized additive models revealed potential correlations between TyG, chronic diarrhea, and constipation. Subgroup analyses were performed to examine the stability of any potential associations.

RESULTS

In the chosen sample, chronic diarrhea had a prevalence of 8.00%, while chronic constipation had a prevalence of 8.04%. In multiple logistic regression, a more prominent positive association was found between TyG and chronic diarrhea, particularly in model 1 (OR = 1.45; 95%CI: 1.17-1.79, P = 0.0007) and model 2 (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.12-1.76, P = 0.0033). No definite association was observed between the TyG levels and chronic constipation. The weighted generalized additive model findings suggested a more substantial positive association with chronic diarrhea when TyG was less than 9.63 (OR = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.05-3.41, P = 0.0344), and another positive association with chronic constipation when it was greater than 8.2 (OR = 1.74; 95%CI: 1.02-2.95, P = 0.0415). The results of the subgroup analyses further strengthen the extrapolation of these results to a wide range of populations.

CONCLUSION

Higher TyG levels were positively associated with abnormal bowel health.