OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between triglyceride glucose index (TyG) and hypertension under different diagnostic thresholds.

METHODS

This study analyzed data from routine occupational health examinations conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University in 2019. TyG and TyG-BMI, indicators of insulin resistance (IR), were calculated using triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FPG), and body mass index (BMI). Hypertension was defined by thresholds of 140/90 mmHg and 130/80 mmHg. Logistic regression models were employed to investigate the association between TyG and hypertension.

RESULTS

Among 4028 subjects, after adjusting for covariates, the risk of hypertension (diagnosed by 140/90 mmHg) was 2.87 times higher (OR=2.87, 95% CI: 2.11-3.91) in the Q4 group of TyG compared to the Q1 group. Similarly, the risk was 8.03 times higher (OR=8.03, 95% CI: 5.05-12.75) in the Q4 group of TyG-BMI than in the Q1 group. Furthermore, the risk of hypertension (diagnosed by 130/80 mmHg) was 2.93 times higher (OR=2.93, 95% CI: 2.34-3.68) in the Q4 group of TyG compared to the Q1 group, and 7.12 times higher (OR=7.12, 95% CI: 5.08-9.99) in the Q4 group of TyG-BMI than in the Q1 group. The restricted cubic spline further showed a dose-response relationship between TyG/ TyG-BMI and hypertension. In the population with a BMI of 24.0-27.9 kg/m, the risk of developing hypertension (diagnosed by 140/90 mmHg) in the Q4 group of TyG was 2.79 times higher (OR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.67-4.66), while the Q4 group with TyG had a 3.07 times greater risk of hypertension (diagnosed by 130/80 mmHg) than the Q1 group (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 2.05-4.60).

CONCLUSION

TyG is an independent risk factor for hypertension across different thresholds, showing a clear dose-response relationship. BMI may influence this association, emphasizing the importance of managing insulin resistance early to aid hypertension prevention.