Acute Coronary Syndrome in Intensive Care Unit Patients: Troponin or Triglyceride Glucose Index Levels?

Background and Objectives: There are few studies suggesting that the Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG), which is mostly defined as a predictor of diabetes, can be used as a predictor of coronary artery disease. In this study, we investigated the relationship between TyG index and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Materials and Methods: Patients who were hospitalized in the coronary intensive care unit between January 2023-December 2024 were included in the study regardless of the admission diagnosis. ACS defined as ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI. The TyG index was calculated with the formula LN [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The relationship between the presence of acute coronary syndrome and troponin level was compared with the TyG index. Results: A total of 586 individuals, 353 (60.2%) males and 233 (39.8%) females, were included in this study. The mean TyG index value was calculated as 75 ± 0.31 (4.03-5.99). ACS was detected in 36.9% (n = 216) of the participants. The mean TyG index was higher in the group with ACS (4.92 ± 0.29) than in the group without ACS (4.65 ± 0.27), p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean value of triglyceride (171.58 ± 114.45 vs. 120.92 ± 63.02, CI 95%, p < 0.001) and glucose (133.57 ± 48.87 vs. 104.88 ± 34.76, CI 95%, p < 0.001) were also higher in the group with acute coronary syndrome. In logistic regression analysis, the TyG index was identified as the most significant predictor of ACS, associated with a 30.994-fold increase in ACS probability. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the TyG index is a significant predictor of acute coronary syndrome independent of the hospitalization reason. The TyG index can be used as a valuable marker in clinical practice because it includes modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease.