Triglyceride/Glucose Index as a Marker of Cardiovascular Risk and Mortality
Keywords:
cardiovascular diseases; risk factors; triglyceride-glucose ratio; insulin resistance.Abstract
Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is recognized as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Insulin resistance contributes to the development of cardiovascular pathologies in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. The triglyceride/glucose index is recognized as an independent predictor of cardiovascular prognosis and mortality.
Objective: To describe the value of the triglyceride/glucose index and its applicability as a predictor of cardiovascular disease.
Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed database using the terms “glucose triglyceride index” and “cardiovascular disease.” A total of 126 studies published from January 2019 to December 2023 were retrieved. Fourteen studies met the selection criteria, six of them were excluded; eight studies related to the central topic were included.
Results: A higher triglyceride/glucose ratio is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in the general population, which in turn increases the risk of mortality. Similarly, its elevation is associated with a risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in elderly hypertensive individuals. This suggests that insulin resistance plays a role as a promoter in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Conclusions: A high triglyceride/glucose ratio is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and elevated mortality rates. Therefore, it can serve as a complementary test for screening patients under investigation for heart disease.
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