Relationship Between the Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Abstract

Previous studies investigating the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a novel marker of insulin resistance (IR), and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population have reported conflicting findings. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association between the TyG index and CKD risk. Cohort studies estimating the multivariate-adjusted association between TyG index and CKD were attained by thoroughly retrieving five databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. A random-effects model was used to analyze the data. Eleven cohort studies comprising 86 038 participants without CKD at baseline were included. Results showed that higher TyG index were independently associated with a higher risk of CKD for highest versus lowest TyG index category [adjusted RR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.38–1.67, I²=0%, p<0.001]. The results with the TyG index analyzed continuously showed consistent (adjusted RR per each unit increase of TyG index: 1.29, 95% CI 1.22–1.36, I²=0%, p<0.001). Findings of sensitivity analysis, which ruled out one dataset at a time, was similar (adjusted RR for categorical variables: 1.48–1.60, all p<0.001; adjusted R for continuous variables: 1.28–1.38, all p<0.001). Subgroup analyses suggested study features including ethnicity, sex, mean age, source of subjects, and the quality scores of studies had no significant effect on the association (all p>0.05). To summarize, a higher TyG index may be independently associated with a higher incidence of CKD in people without CKD at baseline.

Keywords

triglyceride-glucose index - chronic kidney disease - meta-analysis

Publication History

Received: 26 April 2024

Accepted after revision: 11 June 2025

Article published online:
07 July 2025

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