The impact of chronic diseases on the triglyceride/glucose index values of patients attending the family Medicine Polyclinic at Akdeniz University Hospital

Objective: Chronic diseases significantly impair the quality of life of individuals and impose substantial burdens on healthcare systems. Early diagnosis is critical for the prevention and management of these conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the Triglyceride/Glucose (TyG) Index values and chronic diseases in patients attending the Family Medicine Polyclinic of Akdeniz University Hospital. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the potential utility of the TyG Index in the early detection of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors. The role of the TyG Index as a low-cost biomarker in early diagnosis and preventive healthcare services was also explored. Methods: This cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted by obtaining ethical approval and accessing laboratory and demographic data from the hospital's system for a total of 399 patients. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25© (Copyright SPSS Inc., 1989–2017). A statistical significance level of 0.05 was considered for the analysis. Results: The study revealed a significant increase in the TyG Index with the number of chronic diseases (p<0.001). Patients with chronic diseases were found to be older, with higher body mass index (BMI) and weight values compared to healthy individuals. Multimorbid patients demonstrated higher BMI values. Notably, individuals with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases exhibited the highest TyG Index levels. Furthermore, HbA1c, Direct LDL, HDL, and ALT levels were identified as independent risk factors predicting TyG Index values greater than 4.5. A significant positive correlation was observed between the TyG Index and age, BMI, HbA1c, LDL, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These findings underscore the influence of chronic diseases on metabolic risk factors and suggest that the TyG Index may serve as a critical marker for early diagnosis. Conclusion and Recommendations: This study evaluated the effects of the TyG Index, a widely recognized marker of insulin resistance, in both healthy and chronically ill populations. The findings suggest that the presence of chronic diseases is a risk factor for elevated TyG Index values, with the index increasing as the number of chronic conditions rises. Early detection of insulin resistance plays a pivotal role in preventing cardiometabolic and associated diseases. Given these results, we recommend the rapid integration of the TyG Index into clinical practice and advocate for further comprehensive studies to enhance its application in managing multimorbidity and chronic disease prevention, ultimately contributing to overall public health. Keywords: Insulin Resistance, Triglyceride/Glucose Index, Chronic Disease, Early Diagnosis.