# The triglyceride-glucose index and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio jointly predict the no-reflow phenomenon in T2DM patients with STEMI after primary PCI

**Authors:** Jingyan Yang, Dongling Xu, Xiaobo Liu, Zixiong Zhao, Juan Zhang

PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345466 · 2026-03-20

## TL;DR

This study shows that combining two blood markers helps predict a dangerous heart condition in diabetic patients after a heart attack.

## Contribution

A novel predictive model combining TyG index and NLR for no-reflow in T2DM-STEMI patients is developed and validated.

## Key findings

- The combined TyG + NLR model achieved an AUC of 0.785 for predicting no-reflow.
- High TyG and NLR levels together predicted a 23.21% no-reflow incidence.
- The combined model outperformed individual markers or baseline clinical factors.

## Abstract

Patients suffering from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) face an elevated risk of the no-reflow phenomenon even after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). This study aimed to develop an integrated predictive model combining the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for no-reflow in this high-risk population.

A retrospective cohort of 524 patients with T2DM and STEMI undergoing PPCI was analyzed. No-reflow was defined as post-procedural TIMI flow grade ≤2. Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were employed.

The incidence of no-reflow was 8.97% (47/524). Both TyG index (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.98) and NLR (aOR 1.23) were identified as independent predictors. Patients were stratified into four groups based on the optimal cut-offs for NLR (2.831) and TyG (9.347). The group with high levels of both markers had a substantially higher no-reflow incidence (23.21%) compared to the low-risk group (1.49%). The combined model (TyG + NLR) demonstrated superior predictive performance (AUC 0.785) over models containing either marker alone or baseline clinical factors.

The combination of TyG index and NLR effectively stratifies the risk of no-reflow in T2DM-STEMI patients, potentially aiding the early identification of patients in need of targeted management.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** type 2 diabetes mellitus (MONDO:0005148), ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MONDO:0041656)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}
- **Diseases:** metabolic disturbances (MESH:D024821), acute pulmonary edema (MESH:D011654), hypertension (MESH:D006973), heart failure (MESH:D006333), hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), Inflammatory (MESH:D007249), thrombus (MESH:D013927), endothelial dysfunction (MESH:D014652), respiratory, renal, or hepatic impairment (MESH:D012131), metabolic abnormalities (MESH:D008659), TyG (MESH:C566031), MI (MESH:D009203), hyperlipidemia (MESH:D006949), cardiac tamponade (MESH:D002305), cardiogenic shock (MESH:D012770), PPCI (MESH:D003323), cardiovascular disease (MESH:D002318), pain (MESH:D010146), CAD (MESH:D003324), -segment elevation myocardial infarction (MESH:D000072657), myocardial (MESH:D009202), diabetes (MESH:D003920), microvascular impairment (MESH:D017566), IR (MESH:D007333), ACS (MESH:D054058), metabolic dysregulation (MESH:D021081), dyslipidemia (MESH:D050171), reflow (MESH:D054318), T2DM (MESH:D003924), ventricular septal rupture (MESH:D018658), Infarct (MESH:D007238), cardiac injury (MESH:D006331), NLR (MESH:D015467)
- **Chemicals:** TC (MESH:D013667), clopidogrel (MESH:D000077144), tirofiban (MESH:D000077466), glucose (MESH:D005947), ticagrelor (MESH:D000077486), creatinine (MESH:D003404), aspirin (MESH:D001241), heparin (MESH:D006493), lipid (MESH:D008055), triglyceride (MESH:D014280), TyG (-), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), TG (MESH:D013866), atorvastatin (MESH:D000069059)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

11 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13004394/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13004394