Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a product of triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose, is a novel tool that can identify people with metabolic syndrome (MS). It has been shown that TyG index can identify MS among Nigerians, but its cut-off is unknown. We aim to determine the (TyG) index cut-off for MS in a Nigerian population.

Methods: Cross-sectional health screening was conducted between among staff and students of Ekiti State University/Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti. The analysis included 173 men and 300 women, aged >18 years. Anthropometric indices and blood pressure were measured by standard protocol. Fasting lipid profile and blood glucose were determined. TyG index was calculated, and MS defined according to the harmonized criteria. The TyG index cut off for MS was determined with the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.2 (11.4) years. Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent among women (22.0 vs 11.6%, P = 0.005). In both genders, there was significant positive correlation between TyG index and waist circumference (men, r= 0.178, P = 0.019; women, r = 0.172, P = 0.003)), and fasting plasma glucose (men, r = 0.453, women, r = 0.438, P < 0.001). The Tyg index cut-off for identifying MS in men was >8.60 (95%CI, >8.55 to >8.80), corresponding to a Youden index J of 0.67; AUC 0.89, P < 0.0001 (sensitivity 100%, specificity, 67.3%). The Tyg index cut-off for identifying MS in women was >8.90, (95%CI, >8.81 to >8.96) corresponding to Youden index of J of 0.50; AUC 0.89, P < 0.0001 (sensitivity 60.6%, specificity, 89.747%)

Conclusions: TyG index is effective in identifying MS, and its cut-off is >8.60 and >8.90 in men and women respectively.