International Journal of General Medicine (Jan 2022)
Relationship of the Triglyceride-Glucose Index with Subclinical White Matter Hypersensitivities of Presumed Vascular Origin Among Community-Dwelling Koreans
Abstract
Dong-Hyuk Jung, Byoungjin Park, Yong-Jae Lee Department of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Yong-Jae LeeDepartment of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, 211 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06273, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-2-2019-2630, Fax +82-2-3463-3882, Email [email protected] JungDepartment of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, 363 Dongbaekjukjeondae-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16995, Republic of Korea, Tel +82-31-5189-8762, Fax +82-31-5189-8809, Email [email protected]: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a widely accessible measure, has been a surrogate indicator of peripheral insulin resistance, and its clinical importance continues to grow in East Asia. We hypothesized that the TyG index is relevant to subclinical white matter hypersensitivities (WMHs) of presumed vascular origin among community-dwelling Koreans.Methods: We investigated the relationship between the TyG index and WMHs on brain magnetic resonance imaging scans in 2417 Koreans over 45 years of age without a history of cancer, stroke, or ischemic heart disease. The study population was divided into four groups according to the TyG index quartiles. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we assessed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for WMHs across the TyG index quartiles.Results: The prevalence of WMHs was significantly higher in the fourth TyG index quartile, with an overall rate of 9.3%. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the ORs of WMHs for the TyG index quartiles were 1.00, 1.47 (95% CI, 0.91– 2.40), 1.76 (95% CI, 1.05– 2.97), and 6.79 (95% CI, 3.85– 1.54), respectively.Conclusion: We found that higher TyG index values were associated with the brain’s WMHs of presumed vascular origin. Our findings suggest that the serum TyG index could be an additional valuable biomarker for assessing the risk of cerebral small vessel disease in the preclinical stage.Keywords: triglyceride-glucose index, white matter hypersensitivities, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, cerebral small vessel disease
