TyG Index a Low-Cost Predictor of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality, suggests study
According to a new study, TyG (triglyceride-glucose) index independently and linearly predicts both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. It serves as a simple, low-cost marker for early identification of cardio-metabolic risk and useful for population-level risk stratification in clinical practice.
Insulin resistance (IR) is a major determinant of cardiovascular disease and mortality, yet its direct measurement is limited by the need for insulin assays. The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index has emerged as a simple and inexpensive surrogate marker of IR, but its prognostic relevance for mortality remains uncertain due to the heterogeneity of available studies.
This study aimed to: (i) evaluate the predictive value of the TyG index for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in the general population; (ii) assess the shape and magnitude of the dose–response relationship; and (iii) identify the most appropriate threshold for mortality risk prediction.
A systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis was conducted, including prospective cohort studies that assessed baseline TyG and subsequent mortality. Random-effects models were used to pool hazard ratios, and restricted cubic splines were applied to examine potential non-linearity in the dose–response relationship. Twelve studies comprising 14 independent cohorts (≈10.8 million participants) were included.
Each one-unit increase in TyG was associated with a 14% higher risk of all-cause mortality and a 16% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality starting from 6.9 units (or 3.79 units in the alternative scale). Associations were linear and consistent across sensitivity analyses. There was a significant heterogeneity among studies, but no evidence of publication bias.
The TyG index independently and linearly predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, supporting its potential role as a clinically useful, low-cost marker for early cardio-metabolic risk stratification in population-based settings.
Lanfranco, D., Stranges, S., La Fata, E. et al. Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Mortality Risk in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-026-00790-9
