Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG Index) in Association with Blood Pressure in Adults: A Retrospective Study

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a useful tool for identifying insulin resistance at an early stage and has been proposed as a cost-effective predictor for hypertension. However, available studies are limited. This study aims to investigate the association between the TyG index and BP. Methods: Retrospective hospital data of a large cohort (n=1596) of adults aged >= 18 in Saudi Arabia were analyzed. The TyG index was calculated. Lipid markers, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and body mass index (BMI) were included. Results: Across quartiles of the TyG index, SBP was significantly higher in those with higher vs lower TyG (p<0.03). No significant association was observed for DBP. A 2-SD higher SBP was significantly associated with a TyG difference of 1.7 (95% CI: 0.1, 3.3). In subgroup analysis, the relationship prevailed in females only [1.8 (95% CI: 0.3, 3.3)]. Across BMI categories (normal, overweight, obesity), the association between SBP and TyG was observed in participants with obesity only. Conclusions: The TyG index may act as a cost-effective predictive marker for high blood pressure, especially among specific subgroups. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm this relationship.