Joint association of triglyceride-glucose index and body roundness index for sarcopenia risk: A national cohort study

Sarcopenia is an age-related condition that severely impacts the lives of older adults. The role of combined metabolic and body composition measures in sarcopenia risk is not well understood. We investigated the Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG) and Body Roundness Index (BRI) in relation to sarcopenia risk.

This study utilized data from a national cohort study, including 4367 middle-aged and older participants. Sarcopenia was assessed based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019) criteria. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to examine the independent and joint associations of Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG) and Body Roundness Index (BRI) with the risk of sarcopenia, as well as potential interaction effects. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were further conducted to evaluate the robustness and consistency of the findings.

During a 4-year follow-up, both high TyG (HR: 0.74; 95 % CI: 0.56-0.99) and high BRI (HR: 0.27; 95 % CI: 0.19-0.37) were independently associated with reduced sarcopenia risk. The high TyG/high BRI group showed the strongest protective effect (HR: 0.22; 95 % CI: 0.14-0.35). Additive interaction analysis revealed synergistic effects between TyG and BRI (RERI: 0.32; 95 % CI: 0.10-0.54). These associations remained consistent across sensitivity analyses.

We found that both TyG and BRI were significantly associated with sarcopenia risk. Combined assessment of TyG and BRI enhanced the predictive capacity for sarcopenia, emphasizing their potential role in identifying high-risk individuals for targeted prevention.