Association of triglyceride glucose index and triglyceride glucose-body mass index with sudden cardiac arrest in the general population

Insulin resistance (IR) significantly contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) are recognised as convenient proxies for IR. However, their relationship with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains unclear.

This prospective cohort analysis included 355,242 UK Biobank participants with available TyG index and TyG-BMI data and no history of CVD. Cox proportional risk models assessed the association between the TyG index, TyG-BMI and SCA risk. Additionally, Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) models were employed to investigate the timing of SCA onset. The impact of dynamic increases in TyG index and TyG-BMI levels on SCA risk was examined using restricted cubic spline.

Over a median follow-up period of 165.4 months (interquartile range 156.5–174 months), 1,622 cases of SCA were recorded. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a 9% increase in SCA risk per standard deviation increase in TyG index (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.15) and an 14% increase per standard deviation increase in TyG-BMI (aHR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.2). AFT models indicated earlier median times to SCA occurrence with increasing quintiles of TyG index and TyG-BMI compared to the lowest quintile (P for trend < 0.05). SCA risk was linearly (P = 0.54) and non-linearly (P = 0.007) correlated with gradual increases in TyG index and TyG-BMI levels, respectively. Sex-stratified analyses showed stronger associations in women.

Higher TyG index and TyG-BMI levels are associated with an increased SCA risk and earlier onset, particularly in women.