Association between the triglyceride glucose index, triglyceride-glucose body mass index and diabetic kidney disease in adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

Background: The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index has been proved to be a reliable marker of diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Objective: We further investigated the association between TyG index, and its derivative, triglyceride-glucose body mass index (TyG-BMI), and the risk of DKD among adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with newly diagnosed T2D. We assessed the correlation between TyG index, TyG-BMI, and the risk of DKD using logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic spline analysis, trend tests, receiver operating characteristic curve, and subgroup analyses.

Results: Among the 924 included patients, 199 (21.5%) had DKD. Logistic regression revealed that TyG index (odds ratio [OR] 1.232, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.064–1.428, p = 0.005) and TyG-BMI (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.000–1.006, p = 0.021) were risk factors for DKD. The trend test demonstrated a dose–response association between TyG index (p for trend = 0.004), TyG-BMI (p for trend = 0.035), and the risk of DKD. Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a nonlinear correlation between TyG index and the risk of DKD, with an increase in the risk of DKD when the TyG index was greater than 9.68 (p for nonlinearity = 0.014). In contrast, TyG-BMI and the risk of DKD exhibited a linear dose–response relationship, with an increase in the risk of DKD when the TyG-BMI was greater than 243 (p for nonlinearity = 0.034). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff values for TyG index and TyG-BMI were 10.08 and 221.5, respectively.

Conclusion: Among newly diagnosed T2D patients, the risk of DKD increases with the increase of TyG index and TyG-BMI, with their respective cut-off values being 9.68 and 243. Both TyG index and TyG-BMI have poor diagnostic value for the risk of DKD.