The association between triglyceride-glucose index, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and death in Korean adults: A retrospective study based on the NHIS-HEALS cohort

Impact of the Triglyceride-Glucose index on all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities across different metabolic health and obesity statuses in US adults

BACKGROUND

Data for the study cohort were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018). Study participants were classified as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) or nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m²) then further categorized as metabolically healthy or unhealthy on the basis of metabolic syndrome criteria, resulting in four groups: metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO), metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO), and metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUNO). Complex sampling statistical methods were employed for descriptive analysis. The associations between the TyG index and mortality, including all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities, were examined by using multivariable Cox regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS). The reliability of the results was confirmed through multiple sensitivity analyses.

METHODS

Data for the study cohort were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018). Study participants were classified as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) or nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m²) then further categorized as metabolically healthy or unhealthy on the basis of metabolic syndrome criteria, resulting in four groups: metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO), metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO), and metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUNO). Complex sampling statistical methods were employed for descriptive analysis. The associations between the TyG index and mortality, including all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities, were examined by using multivariable Cox regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS). The reliability of the results was confirmed through multiple sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 16 179 participants were included, with a median follow-up of 129 months. Over this follow-up period, 1875 participants (11.59%) died from all causes, including 568 (3.51%) who died due to cardiovascular diseases. After adjustment for confounding variables, the TyG index significantly predicted mortality in the overall and metabolically unhealthy populations: for each one standard deviation increase in the TyG index, all-cause mortality increased by 1.42 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27, 1.58) in the overall population, by 1.62 times (95% CI: 1.36, 1.93) in the MUNO group, and by 1.47 times (95% CI: 1.26, 1.71) in the MUO group. Cardiovascular mortality in the overall population increased by 1.52 times (95% CI: 1.27, 1.82), that in the MUNO group increased by 2.01 times (95% CI: 1.49, 2.72), and that in the MUO group increased by 1.47 times (95% CI: 1.14, 1.88). No significant association was found in the metabolically healthy populations regardless of obesity status. RCS and sensitivity analyses further confirmed and visualized these conclusions.

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG index is positively correlated with mortality risk in the overall and metabolically unhealthy populations but not in the metabolically healthy populations. This finding indicates that the predictive value of the TyG index for mortality differs across populations, highlighting the necessity of accounting for metabolic status when the TyG index is used for prognostic evaluation.

The association between novel metabolic parameters and all-cause/cardiovascular mortality in patients with metabolic syndrome is modified by age

BACKGROUND

Triglyceride glucose index (TyG) serves as an effective parameter for assessing metabolic status. However, it remains uncertain whether TyG and other metabolic parameters can predict clinical outcomes in people with metabolic syndrome (MetS). We investigated the association of TyG, triglyceride glucose-waist to height ratio (TyG-WHtR), and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the MetS cohort and determined whether this association changes with age.

METHOD

Participants enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2001 and 2018 were selected and categorized into two groups: younger individuals (age < 65 years) and older individuals (age ≥ 65 years). Three new metabolic indices of TyG, TyG-WHtR, and METS-IR were constructed. The weighted Cox proportional hazards model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed to evaluate the relation between three indices and mortality outcomes. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessed the ability of different indices to predict mortality. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the robustness and reliability of the findings.

RESULTS

The study comprised a total of 8271 participants, including 5456 younger participants and 2815 older participants, and 1407 deaths were observed over a median follow-up period of 8.3 years. Compared with the first quartile (Q1), the fourth quartile's (Q4) TyG, TyG-WHtR, and METS-IR were linked to an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.12-2.39; HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.68-4.61; HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.12-2.02, respectively) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.15-4.90; HR 4.99, 95% CI 1.76-14.11; HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.89-8.15, respectively) in the younger group but not in the older group. The RCS results showed no significant non-linear associations between TyG, TyG-WHtR, METS-IR, and all-cause (P = 0.082; P = 0.712; P = 0.062, respectively) or cardiovascular mortality (P = 0.176; P = 0.793; P = 0.482, respectively) in the older age group. TyG-WHtR demonstrated the highest area under the curve for predicting 3-year mortality in the younger age group, with values of 0.653 for all-cause mortality and 0.688 for cardiovascular mortality.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight the predictive value of TyG, TyG-WHtR, and METS-IR in the MetS population, providing new evidence for medical practice and public health.

Association of higher triglyceride-glucose index and triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with early neurological deterioration after thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke patients

Background

Insulin resistance (IR) can predict the prognosis of patients suffering from cerebrovascular disorders. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio have been confirmed to be easy and reliable indicators of IR. However, the relationships between the TyG index or TG/HDL-C ratio and early neurological deterioration (END) after thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are uncertain.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 1,187 patients diagnosed with AIS who underwent intravenous thrombolysis between January 2018 and February 2024 was performed. Post-thrombolysis END was defined as an increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of ≥4 within 24 h after thrombolysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationships of the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio with post-thrombolysis END. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the ability of the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio to discriminate post-thrombolysis END.

Results

Among the 1,187 recruited patients, 179 (15.08%) were diagnosed with post-thrombolysis END, and 1,008 (84.92%) were diagnosed with non-END. A binary logistic regression model indicated that the TyG index (odds ratio [OR], 2.015; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.964-2.414, p = 0.015) and TG/HDL-C ratio (OR, 1.542; 95% CI, 1.160-2.049, p = 0.004) were independent factors for post-thrombolysis END. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the TyG index, TG/HDL-C ratio, and TyG index combined with the TG/HDL-C ratio for post-thrombolysis END were 0.704, 0.674, and 0.755, respectively.

Conclusion

This study indicates that the TyG index and TG/HDL-C ratio can be used as prognostic factors to predict post-thrombolysis END.

Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study of 3.5 million adults in China

Background

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been recognized as a crucial risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between the TyG index and mortality in the general population remains elusive.

Methods

Participants were enrolled from the China Health Evaluation And risk Reduction through nationwide Teamwork (ChinaHEART), a nationwide prospective cohort study. The outcomes of interest were all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. Restricted cubic splines and Cox regression models were used to assess the associations between the TyG index and outcomes.

Findings

In total, 3,524,459 participants with a median follow-up of 4.6 (IQR, 3.1-5.8) years were included. The associations of the TyG index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were reverse L-shaped, with cut-off values of 9.75 for all-cause mortality and 9.85 for cardiovascular mortality. For each 1-unit increase in the TyG index, when below the cut-off values, the TyG index was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03) and was only modestly associated with cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06-1.11). Conversely, when the cut-off values were exceeded, the HRs (95% CI) were 2.10 (1.94-2.29) for all-cause mortality and 1.99 (1.72-2.30) for cardiovascular mortality. However, the association between the TyG index and cancer mortality was linearly negative (HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99).

Interpretation

The associations of the TyG index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality displayed reverse L-shaped patterns, while an elevated TyG index showed a slight negative association with cancer mortality. We suggest that <9.75 could be the optimal TyG index cut-off value among the Chinese general population. Individuals at high risk of mortality might benefit from proper management of a high TyG index.

Funding

The National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding (2023-GSP-ZD-2, 2023-GSP-RC-01), the Ministry of Finance of China and National Health Commission of China.

Association between initial continuity of care status and diabetes-related health outcomes in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A nationwide retrospective cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Timely and continuous care is necessary for patients with diabetes to prevent hospitalization and complications. This study investigated the association between initial Continuity of Care Index (COCI) status after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and short- and long-term diabetes-related health outcomes.

METHODS

It targeted elderly patients aged 60 years and above diagnosed with T2DM and used the National Health Insurance Service Senior cohort data from 2008 to 2019. The outcome measures were diabetic avoidable hospitalization and diabetic complication incidence for a five-year period. The main independent variable was the first-year COCI status after T2DM diagnosis. Survival analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Participants with a good COCI status within the first year of being diagnosed with T2DM experienced a reduced risk of diabetes-induced avoidable hospitalization (five years: Hazard ratio (HR) 0.39, 95 % Confidence interval (CI) 0.27-0.57; overall period: HR 0.56, 95 % CI 0.43-0.72) and diabetic complications (five years: HR 0.74, 95 % CI 0.68-0.80; overall period: HR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.71-0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

In the short- and long-term, there is a need for early management and improved healthcare accessibility of diabetes to prevent diabetes-avoidable hospitalization and diabetes-related complications.

An innovative model for predicting coronary heart disease using triglyceride-glucose index: a machine learning-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Various predictive models have been developed for predicting the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), but none of them has had optimal predictive value. Although these models consider diabetes as an important CHD risk factor, they do not consider insulin resistance or triglyceride (TG). The unsatisfactory performance of these prediction models may be attributed to the ignoring of these factors despite their proven effects on CHD. We decided to modify standard CHD predictive models through machine learning to determine whether the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG-index, a logarithmized combination of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and TG that demonstrates insulin resistance) functions better than diabetes as a CHD predictor.

METHODS

Two-thousand participants of a community-based Iranian population, aged 20-74 years, were investigated with a mean follow-up of 9.9 years (range: 7.6-12.2). The association between the TyG-index and CHD was investigated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. By selecting common components of previously validated CHD risk scores, we developed machine learning models for predicting CHD. The TyG-index was substituted for diabetes in CHD prediction models. All components of machine learning models were explained in terms of how they affect CHD prediction. CHD-predicting TyG-index cut-off points were calculated.

RESULTS

The incidence of CHD was 14.5%. Compared to the lowest quartile of the TyG-index, the fourth quartile had a fully adjusted hazard ratio of 2.32 (confidence interval [CI] 1.16-4.68, p-trend 0.04). A TyG-index > 8.42 had the highest negative predictive value for CHD. The TyG-index-based support vector machine (SVM) performed significantly better than diabetes-based SVM for predicting CHD. The TyG-index was not only more important than diabetes in predicting CHD; it was the most important factor after age in machine learning models.

CONCLUSION

We recommend using the TyG-index in clinical practice and predictive models to identify individuals at risk of developing CHD and to aid in its prevention.

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and the risk of mortality among patients with chronic heart failure: results from a retrospective cohort study in China

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been demonstrated to be a reliable surrogate marker of insulin resistance (IR) and an effective predictive index of cardiovascular (CV) disease risk. However, its long-term prognostic value in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) remains uncertain.

METHODS

A total of 6697 consecutive patients with CHF were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into tertiles according to their TyG index. The incidence of primary outcomes, including all-cause death and CV death, was recorded. The TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2].

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 3.9 years, a total of 2158 (32.2%) all-cause deaths and 1305 (19.5%) CV deaths were documented. The incidence of primary events from the lowest to the highest TyG index tertiles were 50.61, 64.64, and 92.25 per 1000 person-years for all-cause death and 29.05, 39.40, and 57.21 per 1000 person-years for CV death. The multivariate Cox hazards regression analysis revealed hazard ratios for all-cause and CV deaths of 1.84 (95% CI 1.61-2.10; P for trend < 0.001) and 1.94 (95% CI 1.63-2.30; P for trend < 0.001) when the highest and lowest TyG index tertiles were compared. In addition, the predictive ability of the TyG index against all-cause death was more prominent among patients with metabolic syndrome and those with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction phenotype (both P for interaction < 0.05). Furthermore, adding the TyG index to the established model for all-cause death improved the C‑statistic value (0.710 for the established model vs. 0.723 for the established model + TyG index, P < 0.01), the integrated discrimination improvement value (0.011, P < 0.01), the net reclassification improvement value (0.273, P < 0.01), and the clinical net benefit (probability range, 0.07-0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG index was significantly associated with the risk of mortality, suggesting that it may be a reliable and valuable predictor for risk stratification and an effective prognostic indicator in patients with CHF.

Sex differences in the nonlinear association of triglyceride glucose index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population

BACKGROUND

The evidence on the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the risk of death in the general population remains controversial. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population, with a focus on sex differences.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002), comprising 7,851 US adults. The study employed multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression and two-segment Cox hazard regression models to evaluate the sex-specific differences in the relationship between the TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

RESULTS

After 11,623 person-years of follow-up, there were 539 deaths, with 10.56% due to all-cause mortality and 2.87% due to cardiovascular mortality. After adjusting for multiple variables, our study found a U-shaped association of the TyG index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, with inflection points at 9.36 and 9.52. A significant sex difference was observed in the association between the TyG index and mortality. Below the inflection point, the relationship between the TyG index and mortality was consistent in males and females. However, above the inflection point, only males exhibited a positive association between the TyG index and all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard risk [HR], 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-2.12) and cardiovascular mortality (adjusted HR, 2.28, 95% CI, 1.32-3.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed a U-shaped association between the TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population. Furthermore, sex differences were observed in the association between the TyG index and mortality once it exceeded a certain threshold.

U-shaped association between the triglyceride-glucose index and atrial fibrillation incidence in a general population without known cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVE

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been shown to be a new alternative measure for insulin resistance. However, no study has attempted to investigate the association of the TyG index with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population without known cardiovascular diseases.

METHODS

Individuals without known cardiovascular diseases (heart failure, coronary heart disease, or stroke) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort were recruited. The baseline TyG index was calculated as the Ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The association between the baseline TyG index and incident AF was examined using Cox regression.

RESULTS

Of 11,851 participants, the mean age was 54.0 years; 6586 (55.6%) were female. During a median follow-up of 24.26 years, 1925 incidents of AF cases (0.78/per 100 person-years) occurred. An increased AF incidence with a graded TyG index was found by Kaplan‒Meier curves (P < 0.001). In multivariable-adjusted analysis, both < 8.80 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02, 1.29) and > 9.20 levels (aHR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03, 1.37) of the TyG index were associated with an increased risk of AF compared with the middle TyG index category (8.80-9.20). The exposure-effect analysis confirmed the U-shaped association between the TyG index and AF incidence (P = 0.041). Further sex-specific analysis showed that a U-shaped association between the TyG index and incident AF still existed in females but not in males.

CONCLUSIONS

A U-shaped association between the TyG index and AF incidence is observed in Americans without known cardiovascular diseases. Female sex may be a modifier in the association between the TyG index and AF incidence.

Association between triglyceride glucose-body mass index and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI index) has been considered a reliable surrogate measure of insulin resistance; however, its ability to predict the incidence of cardiovascular disease in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the correlation between the TyG-BMI index and cardiovascular incidence.

METHODS

A total of 2533 consecutive participants who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation were included. Data from 1438 patients was analyzed in the study. The endpoint was defined as a composite of acute myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke, and all-cause mortality (major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, MACCEs) at 34-month follow-up. The formula for calculating the TyG-BMI index is ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2] × BMI.

RESULTS

Among the 1438 participants, 195 incident patient cases of MACCEs were ascertained. The incidence of MACCEs showed no statistically significant differences in the TyG-BMI index tertiles in the overall population. Further exploratory subgroup analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed a linear relationship between the TyG-BMI index (per 1 SD increased) and MACCEs in the elderly patients (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.011-1.467, p = 0.038) and in the female patients (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.004-1.764, p = 0.047). The addition of the TyG-BMI index to traditional risk factor models in elderly and female patients did not improve risk prediction for MACCEs.

CONCLUSION

A higher TyG-BMI index was proportionally related to an increased incidence of MACCEs in the elderly or female patients. However, the inclusion of the TyG-BMI index did not provide better predictive performance for MACCEs in the elderly, specifically in female patients.

Regional Health Disparities in Hypertension-Related Hospitalization of Hypertensive Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study

Objective: This study aims to explore regional health disparities in hypertension-related hospitalizations and confirm this difference according to the states of continuity of care (COC). Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data from 2002 to 2019. The dependent variable, hypertension-related hospitalization, included hospitalization for hypertensive diseases (I10-I13, I15), ischemic heart disease (I20-I25), and cerebrovascular disease (I60-I69). Nested case-control matching was performed according to age, sex, and income level. We compared hypertension-related hospitalization fractions in urban and rural areas by classifying them according to the state of COC and analyzed them using conditional logistic regression suitable for matched data. Results: The odds of hypertension-related hospitalization of hypertensive patients were higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas; however, as the COC increased, the difference decreased. There was no change in the results according to the COC observation period. Conclusion: To reduce regional health disparities, both the promotion of COC and the improvement of the quality of primary care must be achieved.

Relationship between early-onset stroke and triglyceride-glucose index among young Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index), an alternative indicator of peripheral insulin resistance (IR), is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. The aim of this research was to determine the correlation between early-onset stroke and the TyG index among young Chinese adults.

METHODS

Participants (age ≤ 40 years) who attended their first physical examination in Kailuan General Hospital or its 11 subsidiary hospitals between 2006 and 2012 were enrolled. The subjects were divided into four equal points according to the quartile of the TyG index, with the lowest quartile (Q1) as the reference group. A Cox proportional hazard model was employed to assess the correlation between early-onset stroke incidence and the TyG index. Restricted cubic spline analysis was further conducted to examine nonlinear associations. The TyG index was calculated as Ln [Triglyceride (TG, mg/dL) × Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG, mg/dL)/2].

RESULTS

Overall, 35,999 subjects met the inclusion criteria. Their mean age was 30.8 ±  5.7 years, and 77.1% of subjects were males. During a median observation period of 11 years, 281 stroke events occurred (62 hemorrhagic strokes and 219 ischemic strokes). Compared to the Q1 group (as the lowest group), subjects in groups Q2-Q4 had significantly higher risks of early-onset stroke (P < 0.05) after adjustment for relevant confounders in the Cox proportional hazards model. Similar results were consistent with ischemic stroke. However, no significant associations were observed between the risk of hemorrhage and the baseline TyG index. The restricted cubic splines revealed that the risk of stroke progressively increased with a high TyG index ≥ 8.41.

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG index may be a major risk factor for early-onset stroke among young Chinese adults. A TyG index ≥ 8.41 can be used as an indicator for screening high-risk stroke groups.

Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a predictor of arterial stiffness, incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: A longitudinal two-cohort analysis

Background

Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a useful low-cost marker of insulin resistance. We aimed to evaluate the association between TyG index and arterial stiffness, incidence of diabetes, adverse cardiovascular outcomes, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in two large prospective Swedish cohorts, the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study-Cardiovascular Cohort (MDCS-CV) and the Malmö Preventive Project (MPP).

Methods

Association between baseline TyG index and arterial stiffness, measured by carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (c-f PWV), was assessed using linear regression and general linear models, adjusting for covariates. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess the association between TyG index and incidence of diabetes, coronary events (CE), stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

After multivariable adjustment, baseline TyG index was significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness (β for c-f PWV = 0.61, p = 0.018). Participants in the highest quartile of TyG index vs. lowest quartile had an increased incidence of diabetes (HR: 3.30, 95% CI: 2.47-4.41), CE (HR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.41-1.68), stroke (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.18-1.44), all-cause mortality (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.16-1.28), and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.26-1.49) after adjustment for covariates. Per unit increase in TyG index was associated with increased heart failure risk. No significant association was observed for incident AF.

Conclusion

Elevated TyG index is positively associated with increased arterial stiffness and increased incidence of diabetes, CE, stroke, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The results suggest that TyG index can potentially be useful in the identification of those at increased long-term risk of adverse health outcomes.

Association between triglyceride glucose index and risk of cerebrovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, which is a new surrogate indicator of insulin resistance (IR), is thought to be associated with many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, but its relationship with cerebrovascular disease is still controversial.

METHODS

The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Medline databases were searched until March 2022 to evaluate the association between the TyG index and cerebrovascular disease risk. A random‒effects model was used to calculate the effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

A total of 19 cohort studies and 10 case‒control/cross‒sectional studies were included in our study, which included 11,944,688 participants. Compared with a low TyG index, a higher TyG index increased the risk of cerebrovascular disease (RR/HR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.14, 1.30], P&lt;  0.001; OR = 1.15, 95% CI [1.07, 1.23], P&lt;  0.001). Furthermore, the results of the dose-response analysis of the cohort study demonstrated that the risk of cerebrovascular disease increased by 1.19 times per 1 mg/dl increment of the TyG index (relative risk = 1.19, 95% CI [1.13,1.25], P&lt;  0.001).

CONCLUSION

TyG index is related to cerebrovascular disease. More data and basic research are needed to confirm the association.

High triglyceride-glucose index in young adulthood is associated with incident cardiovascular disease and mortality in later life: insight from the CARDIA study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the associations between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in young adulthood with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.

METHODS

We included 4,754 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study at baseline. The TyG index was calculated as ln (fasting TG [mg/dl] × fasting glucose [mg/dl]/2), and the TyG index trajectories were identified by using the latent class growth mixture model. We evaluated the association between the baseline and trajectories of the TyG index with incident CVD events and all-cause mortality using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The added value of the TyG index included in pooled cohort equations for CVD prediction was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 4754 participants (mean age 24.72 years, 45.8% male, 51.2% black), there were 158 incident CVD events and 246 all-cause mortality during a median 25 years follow-up. After adjusting for multiple confounding variables, each one-unit increase in the TyG index was associated with a 96% higher CVD risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44-2.66) and a 85% higher all-cause mortality risk (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.45-2.36). Three distinct trajectories of the TyG index along the follow-up duration were identified: low (44.0%), moderate (45.5%), and high (10.5%). Compared with those participants in the low TyG index trajectory group, those in the high TyG index trajectory group had a greater risk of CVD events (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.34-4.12) and all-cause mortality (HR 3.04, 95% CI 1.83-5.07). The addition of baseline TyG index to pooled cohort equations for CVD improved the C-statistics (P < 0.001), integrated discrimination improvement value (P < 0.001), and category-free net reclassification improvement value (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher baseline TyG index levels and higher long-term trajectory of TyG index during young adulthood were significantly associated with an increased risk of incident CVD events and all-cause mortality in later life.

Relationship between the triglyceride-glucose index and risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a new alternative measure for insulin resistance. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the associations of the TyG index with the risks of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in the general population.

METHODS

The PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials or observational cohort studies reporting associations of the TyG index with cardiovascular diseases and mortality from inception to April 16, 2022. Effect sizes were pooled using random-effects models. Robust error meta-regression methods were applied to fit nonlinear dose-response associations. Evidence quality levels and recommendations were assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system (GRADE).

RESULTS

Twelve cohort studies (6 prospective and 6 retrospective cohorts) involving 6,354,990 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the lowest TyG index category, the highest TyG index was related to a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) (3 studies; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-2.40; I2 = 0%), myocardial infarction (MI) (2 studies; HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.18-1.56; I2 = 35%), and composite cardiovascular disease (CVD) (5 studies; HR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.23-1.74; I2 = 82%). However, there was no association between the TyG index and mortality (cardiovascular mortality [3 studies; HR = 1.10; 95% CI 0.82-1.47; I2 = 76%] or all-cause mortality [4 studies; HR = 1.08; 95% CI 0.92-1.27; I2 = 87%]). In the dose-response analysis, there was a linear association of the TyG index with the risk of CAD (Pnonlinear = 0.3807) or CVD (Pnonlinear = 0.0612). GRADE assessment indicated very low certainty for CVD, MI, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality, and moderate certainty for CAD.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our current evidence, a higher TyG index may be associated with an increased incidence of CAD (moderate certainty), MI (very low certainty) and CVD (very low certainty) in the general population. There is a potential linear association of the TyG index with CAD and the composite CVD incidence. Further prospective studies (especially in non-Asians) are needed to confirm our findings.

Is Avoidable Hospitalization Experienced Prior to Infection Associated With COVID-19-Related Deaths?

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of the presence or absence of avoidable hospitalization before acquiring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on COVID-19-related deaths.

Methods: This study used the total NHIS-COVID-19 dataset comprising domestic COVID-19 patients, provided by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea. We conducted logistic regression and double robust estimation (DRE) to confirm the effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths.

Results: Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the odds ratio (OR) of death due to COVID-19 was high in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization. DRE analysis showed a higher OR of death due to COVID-19 in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization compared to the group that did not experience avoidable hospitalization, except in the subgroup aged ≤69 years.

Conclusion: The effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths was confirmed. Therefore, continued health care, preventive medicine, and public health management are essential for reducing avoidable hospitalizations despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians need to be informed about the importance of continuous disease management.

Association of triglyceride glucose index with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among middle age and elderly US population

Aims

To investigate the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in middle age and elderly population.

Methods and results

A total of 9,254 participants with age ≥ 45 years were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycle of 1999–2014. The TyG index was determined as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) x fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality (cardiovascular diseases and malignant neoplasms). The association between the levels of TyG and the risk of mortality was explored with Cox regression models. After a median follow-up of 7.6 years, 1,774 all-cause death occurred. Univariate analysis showed that the TyG was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.11,1.26]; p < 0.001). Furthermore, multivariate-adjusted analysis found that the third TyG quartile (8.72 ~ 9.16) was associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.84, 95%CI [0.73, 0.98]; p < 0.05). Restricted cubic splines showed that the association between levels of TyG index and the risk of all-cause mortality was non-linear (p for nonlinearity < 0.001) and the inflection point was 9.18 using threshold effect analysis. The HR was 0.82 (95%CI [0.71,0.96]) below 9.18 while the HR was 1.32 (95%CI [1.12,1.55]) above 9.18.

Conclusion

TyG index was U-shaped associated with all-cause mortality and the TyG index associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality was 9.18.

Association between the Triglyceride-Glucose Index and the Risk of Large Artery Atherosclerotic Stroke

The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the risk of large artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke. Information on general demographic and clinical characteristics, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) examination, and blood biochemical index determination were obtained. Based on age stratification, three models to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were employed to determine the correlation between the TyG index and the risk of LAA stroke. The most effective TyG index threshold in predicting a high risk of LAA stroke was identified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Logistic regression verified the association between the risk of LAA stroke and the TyG index. Both with and without age stratification, logistic regression analysis showed that the TyG index was a significant predictor of the occurrence of LAA stroke (P < 0.05). The maximum Youden index for determining a high risk of LAA stroke was found at a TyG index of 4.60. The area under the ROC curve was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.646-0.742, P < 0.05), sensitivity was 78.0%, and specificity was 63.4%. An elevated TyG index was remarkably associated with a high risk of LAA stroke.