Could the TyG index be a screening tool for postmenopausal osteoporosis?

Purposes: This study aims to explore the sensitivity and efficacy of the TyG index in the screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis, and to provide an objective new method for the prevention and early screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods: This retrospective study selected 1032 subjects who completed bone mineral density examination in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to December 2023 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The baseline data include age, weight, height, BMI, lumbar spine T -value (LS T -value), total hip T -value (TH T -value), femoral neck T -value (FN T -value), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), the TyG index and OSTA. After grouping, the differences in postmenopausal osteoporosis were compared. The correlation of the TyG index and OSTA with baseline data was analyzed. The ROC curve results of the TyG index in the total population, 60-year-old stratification, FBG and TG stratification were analyzed, and the sensitivity and efficacy of the TyG index in the screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis were obtained. Results: In 1032 postmenopausal women, there were significant differences ( P < 0.001) in age, weight, height, BMI, and T -values of three different sites, the TyG index and OSTA. The results of correlation analysis showed that the TyG index and OSTA were positively correlated with weight, BMI, and T -values of three different sites in 1032 postmenopausal women and after 60-year-old stratification ( P <0.001). In the total population and after stratification by 60 years old, the TyG index was positively correlated with FBG and TG ( P <0.001), but not correlated with age and height. Meanwhile, OSTA was negatively correlated with age ( P <0.001) and positively correlated with height ( P <0.001). OSTA was not correlated with FBG and TG in the total population and in postmenopausal women aged <60, but was positively correlated with TG in postmenopausal women aged≥60 ( P <0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of the TyG index and OSTA was close in postmenopausal women aged≥60 with abnormal FBG and/or TG. The cut-off value of the TyG index in postmenopausal women aged≥60 was higher than that in postmenopausal women aged<60, indicating that the risk of osteoporosis increased in postmenopausal women aged≥60 with increased TyG index. Conclusion: The TyG index has the potential to objectively screen osteoporosis in postmenopausal women aged≥60 and postmenopausal women aged≥60 with abnormal FBG and/or TG.