The association between triglyceride-glucose index and related parameters and risk of tuberculosis infection in American adults under different glucose metabolic states: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are known to influence each other, with insulin resistance playing a pivotal role. The relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its derived indices with the incidence of TB infection across varying glucose metabolic statuses is not well defined.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weighted multivariable regression analysis was employed to explore the correlation between TyG and associated parameters with the incidence of TB infection within different categories of glucose metabolism. Interaction analyses and restricted cubic splines were utilized to assess potential heterogeneity in these associations and to explore the link between TyG and its derivatives with the occurrence of TB infection.

RESULTS

The study included 4823 participants, of which 668 had TB infection. In individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), the TyG index (OR 2.17, 95%CI 1.40-3.35), TyG-WC (OR 1.01, 95%CI 1.00-1.01), and TyG-BMI (OR 1.02, 95%CI 1.00-1.04) were correlated with TB infection (all P < 0.05). Among participants with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), TyG (OR 57.10, 95%CI 1.17-278.66), TyG-WC (OR 1.02, 95%CI 1.00-1.05), TyG-WHtR (OR 872.94, 95%CI 43.31-17592.72) were significant associated with TB infection (all P < 0.05). However, in those with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and DM, TyG and its related parameters did not show an association with TB infection (P > 0.05). The sensitive analysis, converting the TyG index from a continuous variable to a categorical variable (quartiles), revealed an association between the TyG index and an increase risk of TB infection in the NGT and IGT group (quartile 4: OR 2.45 (1.31-4.60) and 761.33 (10.54-54999.02), respectively). No significant association between the TyG index and TB infection was observed in DM and IFG groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In participants with NGT and IFG, the levels of the TyG index and its associated parameters were correlated with TB infection. A higher TyG index was independently linked to an increased likelihood of TB infection in individuals with NGT and IGT, but not in DM and IFG.