Triglyceride-glucose index is a risk factor for breast cancer in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: This research delved into the association between the risk of the Chinese population suffering from breast cancer (BC) and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index.

Methods: A total of 2,111 sufferers with benign breast disease (BBD) and 477 sufferers with BC were enrolled, and their TyG index was measured. Participants with varying TyG index values were categorized into quartiles. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between the TyG index and BC risk. The diagnostic performance of the TyG index for different stages of BC was measured using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results: The TyG index of BC sufferers exceeded that of BBD (P < 0.001). A continuous increase in the risk of BC was found to be positively correlated with an ever-increasing TyG index. In the unadjusted model, the risk of getting BC mounted with quartiles of the TyG index growing (P < 0.001). In a logistic regression analysis that included all confounders, the highest quartile of the TyG index was strongly linked to BC risk [1.43 (1.01, 2.02), P < 0.05]. Moreover, with the adjustment of potential confounders, a high TyG index was found to result in a 2.53-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with advanced BC.

Conclusions: The risen TyG index was positively correlated to the heightening risk of BC and had the potential to serve as a promising biomarker for BC. Individuals with a high TyG index ought to be mindful of the heightened risk of BC onset and progression.

Keywords: Benign breast disease; Biomarker; Breast cancer; Insulin resistance; Risk; Triglyceride-glucose index.

Fig. 1

Flow chart of study subjects

Fig. 2

A nonlinear relationship of the TyG index with the risk of breast cancer using a dose-response curve with 5 knots. Cubic spline graph of the unadjusted ORs (represented by the solid line) and 95% CI (represented by the dotted line)

Fig. 3

Comparison of the TyG index among different stages of BC. TyG: triglyceride-glucose; stage 0: carcinoma in situ

Fig. 4

The relationship between the TyG index and breast cancer stages. (A) unadjusted; (B) adjusted for age and BMI; (C) adjusted for age, BMI, smoking status, drinking status, hypertension, family history of malignancy, age at menarche, and hormonal contraception. Logistic analysis was employed to assess the risk, with stage 0 serving as the reference point. BC: breast cancer; stage 0: carcinoma in situ; OR: odds ratio

Fig. 5

ROC of the TyG index in differentiating between benign and malignant breast diseases. (A) ROC of the TyG index in differentiating between benign andtotal population of breast cancer; (B) ROC of the TyG index in differentiating between benign and carcinoma in situ of breast cancer; (C) ROC of the TyG index in differentiating between benign and early stages of breast cancer; (D) ROC of the TyG index in differentiating between benign and advanced stages of breast cancer. ROC: receiver operative characteristic; TyG: triglyceride-glucose; AUC: area under the curve; CI: confidence interval