Relationship between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and anthropometric indices of obesity in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus attending Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia.

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is an indicator used to assess insulin resistance, and it is associated with the risk of diabetic complications, including cardiometabolic risks. Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus through insulin resistance. Although the positive relationship between the TyG index and anthropometric measures of obesity has been well established in diverse global populations, evidence from Ethiopia remains limited. The main aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and anthropometric indices of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 11/2024, to July 10/2024. A total of 167 type 2 diabetic patients were selected for the study. The data were collected and entered into Epidata version 4.6 and exported to Stata version 17 for analysis. Descriptive data were presented using tables, charts, and figures. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose index and anthropometric indices of obesity. Multivariable linear regression was also employed to adjust and identify other possible factors affecting the TyG index level in patients with T2DM. Among 167 study participants, 93 (55.69%) were females, and the rest were males. Triglyceride-glucose index had a significant positive correlation with body mass index (ρ/rho = 0.44 (95% CI: 0.31–0.58), p < 0.001), waist circumference (ρ/rho = 0.53 (95% CI: 0.41–0.64), p < 0.001), hip circumference (ρ/rho = 0.34 (95% CI: 0.21–0.48), p < 0.001), and waist to hip ratio (ρ/rho = 0.57 (95% CI: 0.46–0.68), p < 0.001). Based on multivariable linear regression analysis, BMI and spline variables (waist circumference and hip circumference) were significant determinants of the TyG index. In conclusion, the TyG index was significantly correlated with anthropometric indices of obesity. Strict monitoring of obesity indices may help to indicate the level of insulin resistance and the respective cardiometabolic risks among patients with Type 2 Diabetes. However, the use of convenience sampling and a cross-sectional study design may limit the generalizability of the findings and preclude causal inference; therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution.