Aim of the study

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index serves as a well-established surrogate marker for insulin resistance and may be associated with fatty liver development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and fatty liver prevalence among medical professionals.

Material and methods

This cross-sectional study used health examination data from the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University collected between January and September 2022. Multivariable weighted logistic regression models were employed to examine the association between the TyG index and fatty liver, while restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling was used to explore potential non-linear relationships. Stratified analysis was conducted to assess potential effect modification across population subgroups with different characteristics.

Results

The overall prevalence of fatty liver was 23.49%. Fatty liver prevalence rose substantially across ascending TyG index quartiles, from 5.03% in the lowest quartile to 58.36% in the highest quartile. Regression analysis indicated a positive association between the TyG index and the odds of fatty liver. Participants in the highest TyG index quartile had a 3.35-fold higher odds of fatty liver compared to those in the lowest quartile. RCS analysis revealed an approximately linear relationship between the TyG index and fatty liver, and subgroup analysis showed no significant interaction effects across various baseline characteristics.

Conclusions

The TyG index was significantly associated with fatty liver prevalence among healthcare workers, indicating its potential value as a practical marker for identifying individuals with a higher likelihood of fatty liver in this population. These findings may provide a basis for further research on the potential role of the TyG index in the identification of fatty liver in healthcare workers.