Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Dec 21:46:113.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2023.46.113.41795. eCollection 2023.

Association of triglyceride-glucose index with vascular risk factors and clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study in Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

William Lumu  1 , Ronald Kasoma Mutebi  1 , Susan Nakireka  1 , David Muyanja  1 , Simon Eleku  1 , Denis Kaddu  1 , Ezra Nunda  1 , Deus Kabugo  1 , Henry Kinene  1 , Simon Nambago  1 , Caroline Ninsiima  1 , Isa Kifuba  1 , Deogratious Edemaga  1 , Edgar Atwiine  1 , Brian Mutebi  1 , Majorine Nandawula  1 , Noeline Nakigudde  1 , Zubeda Kataike  1 , Jackline Nakachwa  1 , Catherine Nakaayi  1 , Paul Lukyamuzi  1 , Robinson Ssebuufu  1 , Rose Mutumba  1
Affiliations

Association of triglyceride-glucose index with vascular risk factors and clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study in Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

William Lumu et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable surrogate marker of insulin resistance. We assessed the association between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and vascular risk factors and clinical outcomes of critically ill adult COVID-19 patients.

Methods: data from the charts of all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who were hospitalized at Mengo Hospital Uganda from December 2020 to August 2021 was used for this study. Data on demographics, past medical history, clinical presentation, laboratory findings and clinical outcomes within the first 10 days of admission was extracted. TyG index was calculated as Inverse (triglyceride (mg/dl) x fasting glucose level (mg/dl)/2 and defined vascular risk factors using standard methods. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted to establish a significant association. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05.

Results: out of 314 patients, 176 (56%) were females. The mean age ± SD was 58.2 years ± 16.82. The median TyG index was 9.76 (9.29-10.33). A high TyG index was found among 85.4% (n= 268, 95% CI: 0.809-0.889) of patients. Elevated total cholesterol was in 55.4% (n=174), triglycerides 70.7% (n=222), LDL 64.7% (n=203), blood glucose 80.6% (n=253), systolic blood pressure 43% (n=135) and 24.8% (n=78) diastolic blood pressure. The majority 49.7% ( n=156) were discharged, 22.0% (n=69) needed admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), 15.3% (n=48) died in the unit and 13.0% (n=41) had a composite outcome. The TyG index was significantly associated with glycated hemoglobin (AOR=1.029, 95%CI 0.561-1.496, p<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (AOR=0.121,95%CI 0.023-0.219, p=0.016), high-density cholesterol (AOR=1.956, 95%CI 1.299-2.945, p=0.001), total cholesterol (AOR=2.177, 95%CI 1.5222-3.144, p<0.001, hospital death (AOR=0.778, 95%CI 0.623-0.972, p=0.028) and composite outcome (AOR=1.823, 95% CI 1.221-2.559, p=0.023). There was no association between hypertension and TyG index.

Conclusion: a high TyG index was associated with vascular risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Cardiovascular; clinical; factors; outcomes; risk.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
glycemic categories of COVID-19 patients admitted to the Mengo Hospital COVID-19 Treatment Unit from December 2020 to August 2021 (N=314)
Figure 2
Figure 2
clinical outcomes of patients within 10 days of admission to the Mengo Hospital COVID-19 Treatment Unit from December 2020 to August 2021 (N=314)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Cheng P, Zhu H, Witteles RM, Wu JC, Quertermous T, Wu SM, et al. Cardiovascular Risks in Patients with COVID-19: Potential Mechanisms and Areas of Uncertainty. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2020;22(5):34. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chang Y, Jeon J, Song T-J, Kim J. Association of triglyceride-glucose index with prognosis of COVID-19: A population-based study. J Infect Public Health. 2022;15(8):837–844. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, Liang WH, Ou CQ, He JX, et al. Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 30;382(18):1708–1720. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kastora S, Patel M, Carter B, Delibegovic M, Myint PK. Impact of diabetes on COVID-19 mortality and hospital outcomes from a global perspective: An umbrella systematic review and meta-analysis. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2022 May;5(3):e00338. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rochlani Y, Pothineni NV, Kovelamudi S, Mehta JL. Metabolic syndrome: pathophysiology, management, and modulation by natural compounds. Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis. 2017;11(8):215–225. - PMC - PubMed