Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG) is associated with erectile dysfunction: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Syndrome Research
• Urology

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequently linked to endocrine metabolic diseases like metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes mellitus (DM).
• Insulin resistance (IR) is a key factor in the pathology of these conditions.
• The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, calculated from fasting serum glucose and triglyceride levels, serves as a simple and accessible marker for IR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the TyG index and the presence of ED.
• To determine if the TyG index can serve as a predictive marker for ED.

Main Methods:

• 142 male patients with erectile insufficiency were evaluated.
• Data collected included liver function tests, complete blood count, lipid profiles, glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and testosterone levels.
• The TyG index was calculated, and patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) survey.

Main Results:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) was diagnosed in 64.1% of the patients.
• Patients with ED exhibited significantly higher BMI, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, IR, GGT, HbA1c, triglycerides, and TyG index compared to those without ED.
• The TyG index cutoff of 8.88 demonstrated 67% sensitivity and 68.6% specificity for ED. Age and a TyG index above 8.88 were independent predictors of ED.

Conclusions:

• The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index shows potential as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for erectile dysfunction (ED).
• The TyG index may help identify individuals at higher risk for ED, particularly those with underlying metabolic disturbances.