Abstract
Objective
This study is to investigate the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and arterial stiffness, with a specific focus on examining how this relationship varies across distinct levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
Methods
This investigation leverages data extracted from a Japanese cross-sectional study involving 912 adult participants. Arterial stiffness was identified via brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) exceeding 1400 cm/s. Participants were divided into low-LDL-C (n = 498) and high-LDL-C (n = 414) groups, with the former having LDL-C levels below and the latter at or above the standard of 130mg/dL. Logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between TyG and arterial stiffness, incorporating covariates selected by backward stepwise regression analysis to adjust for confounding. Interaction tests examined the synergistic interplay of TyG with LDL-C levels in an arterial stiffness context.
Results
High-LDL-C participants exhibited significantly higher TyG values, baPWV measurements, and prevalence of arterial stiffness compared to their low-LDL-C counterparts (all P < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression initially suggested a positive correlation between TyG and arterial stiffness in both low- and high-LDL-C groups (all P < 0.05). Post-adjustment in the multivariate model, however, this correlation was sustained significantly only within individuals with low LDL-C (OR = 2.142, 95% CI: 1.03–4.46, P = 0.042), losing significance in the high-LDL-C counterparts. The interaction test confirms a synergistic effect between TyG index and LDL-C levels on arterial stiffness (P for interaction = 0.01).
Conclusion
Our research accentuates the pivotal role of concurrently assessing LDL-C and TyG in estimating arterial stiffness, shedding light on TyG's elevated predictive efficacy, especially in subjects exhibiting low LDL-C concentrations. These insights enhance our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying arterial stiffness and offer a scientific basis for tailored preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions.