# Associations of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and glucose index and triglyceride–glucose-related indices with carotid atherosclerosis in young and middle-aged individuals

## TL;DR

This study finds that the CHG index is more effective than other biomarkers in identifying carotid atherosclerosis in young and middle-aged people.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that the CHG index outperforms TYG-related indices in detecting carotid atherosclerosis in younger populations.

## Key findings

- CHG index was significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.87–3.26).
- CHG had better performance than TYG-related indices (AUC: 0.642 vs 0.599–0.612).
- TYG, TYG-BMI, and TYG/HDL also showed significant associations with atherosclerosis.

## Abstract

Associations of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose (CHG) index and triglyceride-glucose (TYG)-related indices are biomarkers of insulin resistance. However, the relationships between carotid atherosclerosis and the CHG index and TYG-related indices in young and middle-aged people are unclear. This cross-sectional study reported such associations in a general population.

A total of 9,110 participants aged between 18 and 60 years were included. TYG index (ln(triglyceride (mg/dL) × blood glucose (mg/dL)/2), TYG-BMI index (TYG×BMI), TYG/HDL index (TYG/HDL cholesterol), and CHG index (ln[cholesterol (mg/dL) × blood glucose (mg/dL)/2 × HDL (mg/dL)) were calculated. The associations between carotid atherosclerosis and CHG- and TYG-related indices were analyzed via logistic regression analyses.

Carotid atherosclerosis was observed in 3,089 (33.9%) participants. CHG index was significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis (odds ratio (OR): 2.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.87–3.26; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.42–2.26). Similar associations were observed for the TYG index (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: CI: 1.08–1.48; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08–1.62), TY-BMI (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.15–2.11) and TYG/HDL (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.13; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.32–1.94). CHG had better performance than the TYG, TYGBMI, and TYGHDL in identifying carotid atherosclerosis (the area under the curve was 0.642 vs 0.599, 0.620, and 0.612, respectively).

CHG index and TYG-related indices were associated with carotid atherosclerosis in young and middle-aged individuals. CHG had better performance than did TYG-related indices in identifying carotid atherosclerosis.