Triglyceride glucose waist circumference and non alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta analysis

Insulin resistance (IR) plays a noticeable role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC) index, a novel measure for assessing IR, may hold significant predictive value for NAFLD. However, the relationship between TyG-WC and the risk of NAFLD remains elusive. To investigate this association, this comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted.

A systematic electronic search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception until July 2024 to identify observational studies assessing the relationship between TyG-WC and the risk of NAFLD. Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal checklist was utilized to evaluate the quality of cross-sectional studies, while the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score was used to assess cohort studies. The principal summary outcomes included the mean difference (MD) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).

In total, 10 studies comprising 38,518 participants were included in this meta-analysis, of whom 37% were diagnosed with NAFLD. The analysis revealed a significant MD between NAFLD and non-NAFLD cases (MD, 137.41; [95% CI, 121.52-153.31]).

A significant MD was identified between NAFLD and non-NAFLD cases. The TyG-WC index was found to be positively correlated with the risk of NAFLD, suggesting that it may serve as a potential indicator for NAFLD.