Elevated triglyceride-glucose index increases risk in patients with retinal vein occlusion

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most prevalent retinal vascular disorder, and persistent macular edema secondary to RVO is a leading cause of visual impairment. Emerging studies have indicated that the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index holds clinical significance in assessing vascular damage. This study aimed to investigate the role of the TyG index in patients with RVO.

In this retrospective study, we examined 51 patients diagnosed with RVO alongside 54 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Comprehensive ocular examinations were performed, and various hematological parameters, including fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were obtained through blood biochemistry tests. The TyG index was calculated using fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride levels. A logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between these lipid markers and the risk of RVO. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive values of the TyG index in relation to RVO. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 22), with statistical significance set at a p-value of < 0.05.

Among the hematological parameters assessed, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding glucose, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p > 0.05). However, triglyceride levels in the RVO group were significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Additionally, TyG values were markedly higher in individuals with RVO than in controls (p < 0.0001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the TyG index was significantly associated with RVO after adjusting for age and sex (OR = 48.21; 95% CI: 7.19-323.41; p < 0.001). Notably, the TyG index showed an AUC value of 0.819, along with favorable sensitivity (72.55%) and high specificity (83.33%), suggesting its potential as a promising biomarker for both the diagnosis and prognosis of RVO.

Our findings indicate that the TyG index is elevated in patients diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion. Therefore, the TyG index may serve as a significant predictive biomarker for identifying individuals at risk of developing retinal vein occlusion.