The association between the triglyceride-glucose index and non-hypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background The Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index, an indicator of metabolic dysfunction, is relevant to respiratory health; however, there is no research examining its potential utility in assessing lung function among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study is to investigate the connection between COPD and the TyG index, as well as its prognostic role in COPD severity. Methods 203 people were enrolled in the study (87 healthy controls and 116 COPD patients). Considering the median TyG index value, two groups of COPD patients were created. We gathered each subject's clinical features, lung function, TyG index, and further information. This study used multivariate logistic regression to examine how the TyG index is related to and predicts the severity of COPD. Results Compared to non-COPD patients,patients with COPD had a higher percentage of males (P < 0.001) and smokers (P < 0.001), were notably older (P < 0.001), and exhibited an elevated TyG index (P = 0.043). According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria and the percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%) (p = 0.001, p = 0.013, respectively), the group with a high TyG index demonstrated a more severe form of the disease. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between TyG index and FEV1% was discovered (r = -0.248, P = 0.008). Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the TyG index independently predicted the severity of COPD patients (odds ratio [OR] = 4.911, 95% CI: 1.072–2.484, p = 0.04). Conclusions Our findings indicate that the TyG index, incorporating both glucose and triglyceride levels, could offer a novel and valuable approach for assessing the degree of airflow restriction in individuals with COPD.