# TyG Index and Obesity‐Related Measures in Relation to All‐Cause Mortality Among HSV‐Positive Adults

## TL;DR

This study finds that higher levels of the TyG index and related measures are linked to increased mortality in adults with herpes simplex virus.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the association between the TyG index and mortality specifically in HSV-positive individuals.

## Key findings

- Higher TyG index levels were significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality.
- TyG-WHtR showed the strongest association with mortality compared to other derived indices.
- All TyG derivatives demonstrated a positive link to mortality in HSV-positive adults.

## Abstract

Previous studies have extensively explored the association between the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index and mortality; however, evidence specific to the herpes simplex virus (HSV)–positive population remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between the TyG index and mortality among HSV‐positive adults, providing new insights into this field.

This study included 8465 HSV‐positive adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018, with mortality follow‐up through 2019. The TyG index and four derived indices, TyG‐BMI, TyG‐WC, TyG‐WHtR, and TyG‐ABSI, were calculated using fasting triglycerides, glucose, and anthropometric data. Associations with all‐cause mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. Two‐piecewise Cox regression models were applied to explore potential threshold effects.

Over a median follow‐up of 143 months, 297 all‐cause deaths (3.5%) occurred. Higher levels of the TyG index and its derivatives were significantly associated with increased all‐cause mortality. TyG‐WHtR showed the strongest association (HR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.41–3.06), followed by TyG‐WC (HR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.34–2.82), TyG‐BMI (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.33), and the TyG index itself (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.20–1.52). TyG‐ABSI also demonstrated a positive linear association (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.18–1.50).

Elevated levels of the TyG index and its obesity‐related derivatives, particularly TyG‐WHtR, were associated with increased all‐cause mortality in HSV‐positive adults.