The Triglyceride-Glucose Index is Independently Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in the Geriatric Population, Regardless of Obesity and Sex

Abstract

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) negatively affects several risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This cross-sectional study investigated whether the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, which reflects IR, was independently associated with CKD in a geriatric population, regardless of obesity and sex. Methods: The analysis included 7,326 individuals (2,864 males and 4,462 females) aged ≥60 years. Non-obesity or obesity was evaluated using a body mass index cutoff of 25 kg/m2. The TyG index was calculated as ln [triglyceride concentration (mg/dL)×fasting plasma glucose concentration (mg/dL)]/2. All participants were categorized into three groups according to TyG tertiles. Moderate-to-severe CKD (MSCKD) was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <45.0 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results: Regardless of obesity status and sex, a decreasing trend in eGFR was observed from the lowest to the highest TyG tertiles. Men without obesity and women with obesity in the middle and highest tertiles of the TyG index were 2.342 and 2.393 and 2.313 and 3.516 times more likely to have MSCKD, respectively. Those with obesity in the highest tertile of the TyG index were 1.736 and 2.374 times more likely to have MSCKD. Conclusion: Geriatric populations with an increased TyG index have a high risk of MSCKD regardless of obesity and sex. Our findings suggest that increased IR is associated with CKD in the geriatric population independent of obesity and sex.