Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a novel risk marker of future COPD in women: Study

Sweden: Insulin resistance, estimated by the TyG index may precede the development of obstructive lung disease in women, states an article published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. TyG index can be used as an easily measurable and useful biomarker predictor of COPD in women.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). T2DM can worsen the progression and prognosis of COPD, increasing the odds of COPD-related mortality. Very few studies exist that assessed the role of insulin resistance as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of COPD and its progression.

The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) is a novel marker, which has been demonstrated to have a high sensitivity and specificity in identifying metabolic syndrome and has the advantage of being universally available. Although recent evidence suggests the TyG index has relevance to respiratory health, there have been no prospective studies assessing its value as a biomarker for chronic lung diseases.

Suneela Zaigham, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden, and colleagues conducted a study to assess the potential role of the TyG index as a risk marker for future incident COPD events in the general population.

Researchers screened a total of 33,346 middle-aged subjects at baseline between 1974 and 1992 (22,444 men and 10,902 women) from the Malmö Preventive Project. All subjects were followed up prospectively and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess incident COPD events according to quartiles of the TyG index.

Results

• After an average of 31 years of follow-up, the TyG index was a strong predictor of future COPD events even after adjusting for potential confounders HR: 1.21.

• After stratifying by sex, the results remained statistically significant in women (HR 1.72).

• The risk remained significant in a cohort of lifelong never smokers ( HR 1.47).

The authors conclude that raised TyG index is a novel risk marker of future incident COPD events in women. The insulin resistance, as estimated by the TyG index, has a potential role in the pathogenesis of future COPD, which goes beyond the role of smoking.

The study findings illustrate sex differences in the association between estimated insulin resistance (TyG index) and COPD risk. The findings remain significant after both adjusting for smoking status and in a cohort of lifelong never smokers.

Reference:

Zaigham S, Tanash H, Nilsson PM, Muhammad IF. Triglyceride-Glucose Index is a Risk Marker of Incident COPD Events in Women. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2022;17:1393-1401. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S360793