Association between METS-IR and Ischaemic Heart Disease: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2018 Analyses

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) represents a significant global health burden. The Metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) represents an innovative tool for assessing insulin resistance (IR), a well-established factor linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between METS-IR and IHD within the United States population has yet to be fully clarified. This analysis seeks to investigate the possible relationship between METS-IR and IHD, providing insights into how metabolic factors may influence cardiovascular risk in this demographic. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was executed on a cohort of 14,305 participants selected from the 2007–2018 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METS-IR was calculated, and IHD was recognized through self-reported diagnoses of coronary heart disease (CHD), heart attack, or angina pectoris. To assess the link between METS-IR and IHD, multivariate logistic regression was applied. Interaction effects were also assessed, and smoothed curve fitting was utilized to provide a more detailed analysis of the relationship. Results: The analysis included 14,305 participants, among whom 1,050 were identified as having IHD. In the fully adjusted model, a one-unit unit increase in METS-IR was linked to a 2% rise in the odds of IHD (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.03). In the categorical analysis, individuals in the highest METS-IR quartile showed a 76% higher probability of IHD as opposed to those in the lowest quartile (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.34, 2.31). Interaction analyses revealed significant effects based on age and gender, suggesting that the correlation between METS-IR and IHD varied across these subgroups. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that increased METS-IR is linked to a heightened risk of IHD, highlighting its potential as an important biomarker for evaluating cardiovascular risk in the United States population. Additional longitudinal studies are necessary to ascertain a causal association between METS-IR and IHD.