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Current Rheumatology Reviews

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-3971
ISSN (Online): 1875-6360

Research Article

Relationship between Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Disease Activity and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Author(s): Seham Abdallah Elazab*, Wagenat Effat Elsayed, Nosaiba Mohammed Alrahim, Marwa Abdallah Elsaid, Samah Mohamed Akab, Alshimaa Ahmed Ezzat Mohammed Enayet, Maha Salah Eldin Mohamed, Sherien Abdallah Elazab, Marwa Mostafa Sonbol and Radwa Mohamed Fath Allah

Volume 20, Issue 2, 2024

Published on: 17 October, 2023

Page: [191 - 199] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/0115733971259984230922054439

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), insulin resistance (IR) is related to inflammatory markers, disease activity, and progression of atherosclerotic changes. Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a relatively new indicator of IR.

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between TyG index, disease activity and subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) in RA patients.

Methods: The present case-control study included 100 RA patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All participants were subjected to careful history taking through clinical examination and standard laboratory assessment. The TyG index was calculated as TyG index = ln (Fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL))/2. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement was done using B-mode ultrasound.

Results: Patients had significantly higher TyG index as compared to controls. Patients with high disease activity had significantly higher frequency of extraarticular manifestations (39.6% versus 51.6%, p = 0.028), higher Larsen score (3.8 ± 1.3 versus 2.8 ± 1.2, p < 0.001), higher anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) levels (median (IQR): 243.1 (205.0-408.0) U/ml versus 99.0 (78.0-332.5), p < 0.001), higher TyG index (4.8 ± 0.22 versus 4.67 ± 0.24, p = 0.006), and higher CIMT (0.87 ± 0.22 versus 0.77 ± 0.17 mm, p = 0.018). Patients with SCA had higher BMI (34.6 ± 6.2 versus 30.5 ± 5.3 Kg/m2, p < 0.001), higher Larsen score (3.7 ± 1.4 versus 3.1 ± 1.3, p = 0.028) and higher TyG index (4.89 ± 0.23 versus 4.64 ± 0.19, p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis identified patients’ age (OR (95% CI): 0.94 (0.89-0.99), p = 0.018), Larsen score (OR (95% CI): 1.93 (1.32-2.82), p = <0.001), anti-CCP (OR (95%): 1.04 (1.02-1.07), p = 0.032), and TyG index (OR (95% CI): 22.67 (2.14-240.4), p = 0.01) as significant predictors of high disease activity in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: IR estimated by the TyG index is related to disease activity and SCA in RA patients.

Graphical Abstract

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