Nonlinear Association of the Triglyceride-Glucose Index With Hyperuricemia Among Young Chinese Adults

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a practical surrogate of insulin resistance, but evidence on its association with hyperuricemia (HUA) in young adults is limited. We examined the nonlinear association between TyG and HUA in a young Chinese population. This cross-sectional study included 6343 adults aged 18-45 years who underwent routine health examinations at the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Participants were categorized into TyG quartiles. Multivariable logistic regression with stepwise adjustment for demographic, body composition, and metabolic covariates was used to evaluate the association between TyG and prevalent HUA. Restricted cubic splines (RCSs) assessed potential nonlinearity, and stratified analyses were performed across subgroups. The mean age was 33.7±7.1 years, and 73.5% were male; the prevalence of HUA was 28.4%. The proportion of HUA increased across TyG quartiles from 14.0% in Q1 to 51.3% in Q4 (p < 0.001). In fully adjusted models, the highest TyG quartile was associated with higher odds of HUA compared with Q1 (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46-3.51). RCS analysis demonstrated a significant nonlinear relationship (p for nonlinearity < 0.001) with a change in the slope around TyG = 8.278. Below this threshold, the association was not significant (OR 0.629, 95% CI 0.24-1.652), whereas above it the odds increased sharply (OR 5.846, 95% CI 3.718-9.193). Findings were consistent in stratified analyses. Overall, TyG is independently and nonlinearly associated with HUA in young adults, supporting its potential utility for early risk identification.