Gender differences in triglyceride glucose index predictive power for type 2 diabetes mellitus: a Chinese cohort study

Objective

This study aims to explore the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese men and women while assessing its predictive capability by gender.

Methods

Data from the DRYAD database were used in this study, which also performed a secondary analysis of 48,230 participants from the China Rui-Ci group. Data on lifestyle habits, detailed health indicators, and demographics were gathered. The TyG index was calculated, and statistical techniques such as multivariate Cox regression and generalized additive models were used to analyze the correlation between the TyG index and the incidence of T2DM. Gender-specific predictive capacity was evaluated through subgroup analyses and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC).

Results

A cohort of 48,230 individuals demonstrated a significant positive link between the TyG index and T2DM risk in both genders. In the adjusted model, T2DM risk rose by 1.68 times (95% CI, 1.23–2.28) in males and 3.59 times (95% CI, 2.29–5.65) in females. Female participants showed a higher TyG index predictive value for T2DM (AUC = 0.812) compared to males (AUC = 0.721). Notably, females with hypertension displayed significantly elevated T2DM risk in various age groups compared to males (p for interaction < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study reveals a positive correlation between the TyG index and T2DM risk in both genders. Moreover, the predictive capacity of this relationship is notably stronger in females.