Triglyceride-Glucose Index as a Novel Biomarker in the Occurrence of Kidney Stones: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study

Background: Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been considered as the reliable marker of insulin resistance (IR), which is one risk factor of kidney stone. This study aimed to evaluate the TyG index in the occurrence of kidney stones among the United States (US) population.

Methods: Participants who received assessment were retrieved from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018. The logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between the TyG index and kidney stones occurrence. A 1:1 matched-pair analysis was established to optimize the bias in kidney stones by propensity score matching (PSM). The dose-response curve was performed to verify the association between the TyG index and risk of kidney stones.

Results: Of the 14,158 eligible enrolled participants, 1346 (9.5%) self-reported a history of kidney stones. All participants were divided into two groups (high TyG index group and low TyG index group) based on the median TyG index. The dose-response curve exhibited a positive non-linear correlation between the TyG index and kidney stones risk. High TyG index was related to increased kidney stones occurrence in participants, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 1.14 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.01-1.30, P = 0.038) compared with the low TyG index subgroup before PSM. After PSM, the risk of kidney stones was 19% higher in the high TyG group compared with the low TyG group (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02-1.38, P = 0.026), and the dose-response curve still showed a positive association between TyG index and kidney stone risk.

Conclusion: The TyG index was independently associated with kidney stones and would be a novel biomarker in predicting occurrence for clinical decision.