Value of the triglyceride-glucose index in predicting sarcopenia in elderly prediabetic patients

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.2095-8757.2025.02.002

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective

To explore the predictive value of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index for diagnosing sarcopenia in elderly patients with prediabetes.

Methods

A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted. General characteristics and laboratory test results were collected from prediabetic patients aged≥65 years attending the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2023 and June 2024. Participants were divided into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups based on the presence of sarcopenia. Differences between groups were compared to identify potential risk factors for sarcopenia using χ² test and t test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between various indicators and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) and grip strength. Logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate risk factors for sarcopenia in prediabetic patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of the TyG index for sarcopenia in elderly prediabetic patients.

Results

A total of 211 elderly prediabetic patients were enrolled, including 102 males (accounting for 48.3%), with a mean age of (78.72±6.68) years. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 107 patients. The TyG index was significantly higher in the sarcopenia group (8.81±0.54) than in the non-sarcopenia group (8.43±0.40) (t=5.820, P < 0.05). The TyG index showed a negative correlation with ASMI and grip strength (r=-0.224, -0.215; P < 0.01). It was identified as a risk factor for sarcopenia in prediabetic patients (OR=1.646, 95%CI: 0.426-6.358, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the TyG index in predicting sarcopenia in elderly prediabetic patients was 0.706 (95%CI: 0.636-0.775). The optimal cut-off value was 8.631, with a sensitivity of 70.2% and specificity of 62.6%.

Conclusion

The TyG index may be an effective predictor of sarcopenia in elderly patients with prediabetes.

Key words: Sarcopenia, Prediabetes, Triglyceride-glucose index, Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index

Xun Xiao, Xiangyu Zhang, Hui Gong. Value of the triglyceride-glucose index in predicting sarcopenia in elderly prediabetic patients[J]. Chinese Journal of Geriatrics Research(Electronic Edition), 2025, 12(02): 9-13.

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References 29

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组别	例数	男性	年龄（岁）	BMI（kg/m²）	ASMI（kg/m²）	SBP（mmHg）	DBP（mmHg）
肌少症组	107	56（52.3%）	78.99±7.32	21.32±2.54	5.81±0.79	137.30±20.07	76.80±11.13
非肌少症组	104	46（44.2%）	78.44±5.98	23.99±3.30	7.06±0.86	138.76±14.69	74.76±9.48
检验值		χ²=1.388	t=0.598	t=6.573	t=10.987	t=0.604	t=1.435
P值		>0.05	>0.05	<0.01	<0.01	>0.05	>0.05
组别	例数	握力（kg）	TC（mmol/L）	TG（mmol/L）	HDL-C（mmol/L）	LDL-C（mmol/L）	TyG指数
肌少症组	107	18.47±5.95	4.27±1.11	1.70±0.79	1.15±0.33	2.47±0.96	8.81±0.54
非肌少症组	104	22.01±7.23	3.90±0.93	1.16±0.41	1.19±0.37	2.13±0.73	8.43±0.40
检验值		t=3.878	t=2.627	t=6.257	t=0.829	t=2.901	t=5.820
P值		<0.05	<0.01	<0.01	>0.05	<0.01	<0.05

组别	例数	男性	年龄（岁）	BMI（kg/m²）	ASMI（kg/m²）	SBP（mmHg）	DBP（mmHg）
肌少症组	107	56（52.3%）	78.99±7.32	21.32±2.54	5.81±0.79	137.30±20.07	76.80±11.13
非肌少症组	104	46（44.2%）	78.44±5.98	23.99±3.30	7.06±0.86	138.76±14.69	74.76±9.48
检验值		χ²=1.388	t=0.598	t=6.573	t=10.987	t=0.604	t=1.435
P值		>0.05	>0.05	<0.01	<0.01	>0.05	>0.05
组别	例数	握力（kg）	TC（mmol/L）	TG（mmol/L）	HDL-C（mmol/L）	LDL-C（mmol/L）	TyG指数
肌少症组	107	18.47±5.95	4.27±1.11	1.70±0.79	1.15±0.33	2.47±0.96	8.81±0.54
非肌少症组	104	22.01±7.23	3.90±0.93	1.16±0.41	1.19±0.37	2.13±0.73	8.43±0.40
检验值		t=3.878	t=2.627	t=6.257	t=0.829	t=2.901	t=5.820
P值		<0.05	<0.01	<0.01	>0.05	<0.01	<0.05

因素	ASMI		握力
因素	r值	P值	r值	P值
BMI	0.483	<0.001	0.144	0.037
年龄	-0.003	0.967	0.029	0.674
SBP	0.054	0.434	0.041	0.555
DBP	0.003	0.963	0.046	0.509
TC	-0.162	0.018	-0.006	0.936
TG	-0.144	0.037	-0.145	0.035
HDL-C	-0.206	0.003	-0.004	0.959
LDL-C	-0.122	0.077	-0.002	0.978
TyG指数	-0.224	0.001	-0.215	0.002

因素	ASMI		握力
因素	r值	P值	r值	P值
BMI	0.483	<0.001	0.144	0.037
年龄	-0.003	0.967	0.029	0.674
SBP	0.054	0.434	0.041	0.555
DBP	0.003	0.963	0.046	0.509
TC	-0.162	0.018	-0.006	0.936
TG	-0.144	0.037	-0.145	0.035
HDL-C	-0.206	0.003	-0.004	0.959
LDL-C	-0.122	0.077	-0.002	0.978
TyG指数	-0.224	0.001	-0.215	0.002

因素	β	SE	Wald χ²	P值	OR值	95%CI
BMI	-0.395	0.076	27.103	<0.001	0.673	0.580-0.782
TC	-0.728	0.642	1.287	0.257	0.483	0.137-1.699
TG	0.151	0.515	0.086	0.770	1.163	0.424-3.189
LDL-C	1.033	0.699	2.187	0.139	2.810	0.715-11.055
TyG指数	2.801	0.689	16.503	<0.001	1.646	0.426-6.358

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