Association Between Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Sarcopenia in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Airway Disease

Objective This research sought to explore the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the risk of sarcopenia in patients with chronic inflammatory airway disease (CIAD). Methods Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018. Grouping was performed using TyG index tertiles and multiple logistic regression was employed to assess the correlation between TyG levels and the risk of sarcopenia. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to determine the prognostic value of the TyG index for sarcopenia. Linear regression analysis was utilized to elucidate the direct relationship between TyG index and sarcopenia. Additionally, the curve between the TyG and sarcopenia indices was examined using a generalized additive model. Results The study included 981 individuals diagnosed with CIAD. After adjusting for potential confounders, a significant positive correlation was observed between TyG and sarcopenia (OR = 1.70, 95 % CI: 1.20–2.39, P = 0.002). Trend analysis using the chi-square test revealed an increase in sarcopenia prevalence concomitant with higher TyG levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, linear regression analysis revealed a notable inverse linear association between the TyG and sarcopenia indices (β = −0.03; 95 % CI: −0.07–0.01; P = 0.020). The ROC curves corroborated the robust predictive capacity of TyG for sarcopenia among patients with CIAD, with an AUC of 0.685 (95 % CI: 0.636–0.735, P < 0.001). Conclusion Our research indicates a positive association between TyG and sarcopenia in CIAD patients. The TyG index may serve as a reliable marker for predicting sarcopenia risk in CIAD patients.