The relationship between the C-reactive protein-triglyceride glucose index and gallstones in American adults: Results from NHANES 2017 to 2020

Research has revealed that the C-reactive protein-triglyceride glucose index (CTI) reliably indicates the presence of inflammation and insulin resistance. These are both key factors in causing gallstones. This cross-sectional study investigated the potential link between CTI and the development of gallstones, analyzing data from the 2017 to 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. CTI was calculated using the following formula: 0.412 × Ln (C-reactive protein) (mg/L) + Ln [triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Gallstones were identified through self-reports. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between CTI and gallstones. Subgroup analyses, interaction tests and smoothed curve fitting were also conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings. The study included a total of 3861 participants. The results revealed a significant association between CTI and gallstones (odds ratio: 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.42, P = .005). Those in the highest CTI quartile were more likely to have gallstones than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio: 2.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.38–2.96, P < .001). Consistently, both the smoothed curve fitting and the subgroup analysis highlighted a positive correlation. Indicating that an elevated CTI level could be a valuable clinical indicator for identifying gallstones.