Correlation between triglyceride glucose index and coronary plaque: An observational study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Biomarkers

Background:

• The relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and coronary plaque characteristics is not fully understood.
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) poses a significant global health burden.
• Vulnerable coronary plaques are key determinants of acute coronary events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the TyG index and coronary plaque characteristics.
• To explore this relationship across different glucose metabolism statuses (non-diabetic and diabetic).
• To determine the predictive value of the TyG index for vulnerable coronary plaques.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study involving 232 patients with coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Patients were stratified into two groups based on the median TyG index (T1 and T2).
• Plaque vulnerability was assessed using OCT, and glucose metabolism status was categorized.

Main Results:

• The higher TyG index group (T2) showed a significant association with vulnerable plaques (OR: 2.638, P < .001).
• The TyG index itself was a significant predictor of vulnerable plaques (OR: 2.175, P < .001) with an AUC of 0.727.
• In diabetic patients, a statistically significant correlation was observed between the TyG index and coronary vulnerable plaque (OR: 3.273, P < .05).

Conclusions:

• The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a valuable and independent predictor of coronary vulnerable plaque.
• The TyG index may aid in identifying patients at higher risk for plaque instability.
• These findings highlight the importance of metabolic markers in cardiovascular risk assessment.