The role of triglyceride-glucose index in central retinal artery occlusion

Purpose To evaluate the correlation between the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index and newly diagnosed cases of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in patients. Methods The research involved 51 patients diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and a control group consisting of 50 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex. Following a thorough ocular examination, various blood biochemistry and hematological parameters were documented. The TyG index was derived from fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride values. Results The average age was 66.1 +/- 8.9 years for individuals with CRAO and 64.9 +/- 7.6 years for those in the control group. Significant differences in TyG values were observed between the CRAO and control groups, with the CRAO group exhibiting higher values (8.74 +/- 0.17 vs. 8.49 +/- 0.22, p<0.001). Upon multivariate analysis, the TyG index emerged as an independent predictor of CRAO (Odds Ratio= 1.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.19 - 4.23; p < 0.001). In receiver operating characteristics analysis, the area under the curve for the TyG index was 0.789. A TyG index exceeding 8.58 predicted CRAO with 78% sensitivity and 68% specificity. Conclusion The current study demonstrated a notable association between increased TyG index and central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Thus, the TyG index could serve as a valuable predictive marker for assessing the risk of CRAO.