Triglyceride glucose index is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and subclinical myocardial dysfunction in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that, the triglyceride glucose index (TyG index) is related with the development of cardiovascular disease. AIM: Our novel study aimed to determine whether the TyG index measured at the time of diagnosis conducted on newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic individuals and the relationship between TyG index and carotid intima media thickness, as well as both myocardial functions and epicardial adipose tissue was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 105 individuals (58 F, 47 M; mean age 50.4±9.8 years) newly diagnosed with T2DM and 51 healthy subjects (30 females, 21 males, mean age 49.8±8.9 years) without any chronic disease as the control group. In addition to laboratory parameters, transthoracic echocardiography carotid intima-media thickness with linear vascular probe were examined in all individuals. RESULTS: TyG index was significantly higher in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic individuals compared to the controls. There was a positive correlation between the TyG index and carotid intima-media thickness, epicardial fat thickness, HbA1c, Homa-IR, body surface area, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index and CRP. When diastolic functions were considered, there was a negative correlation with E/A and a positive correlation with E/e’ septal. TyG index was also negatively correlated with EF. Regression analysis revealed that age and TyG index were associated with an increase in carotid IMT thickness. CONCLUSION: TyG index measured at the time of diagnosis in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients is also associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, deterioration in left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions.