TyG Index as a Marker to Predict Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is characterized by vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, which causes coronary stenosis and myocardial ischemia. The blockage of the blood vessel caused by the detachment of the endovascular plate leads to an acute CAD attack. Without timely intervention, this can be life-threatening for the patient. Currently, coronary angiography (CAG) is the reference standard for diagnosing CAD with inconclusive evidence to confirm the morbid state. Although it assesses the severity of coronary vascular occlusion, this technique is invasive and carries inherent risks.

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a common dyslipidemia and the association of triglyceride (TG) with CVD risk remains controversial . However, judging from a credible body of evidence, we can conclude that HTG is an independent risk factor of developing glucose metabolism disorders. Plasma TG levels are strongly associated with raised glucose levels because of the interactions between fat, muscle and function of pancreatic β-cells .

Moreover, accumulation of TG in the liver may cause fatty liver disease, which can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) . Prospective studies have revealed that plasma TG is an independent risk factor for developing T2DM . Additionally, it has been demonstrated that lowering TG, such as fibrates do, can significantly attenuate the process of developing insulin resistance . Furthermore, it also has been reported that both fasting glucose and TG within the high normal range may predict CVD risk . Hence, evaluating the joint value of TG and fasting glucose in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) may be clinically in need.

Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a novel marker, which has been demonstrated to have a high sensitivity and specificity in identifying metabolic syndrome . Previous studies have shown that TyG index is associated with carotid atherosclerosis, coronary artery calcification and high risk of CVD.

Several studies demonstrated that the TyG index has a positive relevance with type 2 diabetes, Insulin resistence ,subclinical myocardial injury,and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A higher TyG index correlates with a greater incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes and ACS, indicating its potential as an independent predictor for cardiovascular disease prognosis.

A recent large-scale prospective study suggested that the TyG index is an independent predictor for the progression of coronary artery calcification, especially in individuals without heavy coronary artery calcification at baseline . Moreover, an increased TyG index has been shown to be independently associated with higher risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, and worse prognosis in patients with ACS, irrespective of diabetes mellitus .

This study aims to predict severity of CAD using TyG index and its correlation to coronary angiography findings.