Association Between the Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Peripheral Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis

The triglyceride-glucose index, an indicator of insulin resistance, has emerged as a potential predictor of various cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between the triglyceride-glucose index and peripheral artery disease remains unclear. This meta-analysis sought to clarify the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose index and the incidence or prevalence of peripheral artery disease. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was carried out to identify relevant observational studies published up to June 1, 2024. Inclusion criteria included studies on adult populations that evaluated the triglyceride-glucose index and reported peripheral artery disease outcomes. To assess the association between the triglyceride-glucose index and peripheral artery disease, risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed using a random-effects model incorporating the impact of heterogeneity. Nine studies with a total of 37,761 participants were involved in the meta-analysis. The analysis revealed that individuals with a high triglyceride-glucose index had significantly increased odds of peripheral artery disease (risk ratio: 1.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.21-1.67, p < 0.001; I ²=55%). Sensitivity analyses performed by excluding one study at a time confirmed the robustness of these findings. Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent associations across different study designs, populations, and methodological quality. Diabetic patients exhibited a stronger association (risk ratio: 1.38) compared to non-diabetic participants (risk ratio: 1.06, p _{subgroup difference}=0.006). In conclusion, a high triglyceride-glucose index is linked to peripheral artery disease, especially in people with diabetes. These results suggest that the triglyceride-glucose index could be used as a valuable marker for assessing peripheral artery disease risk in clinical practice.