What question did this study set out to answer?

This research explores the link between the triglyceride-glucose index and depression risk in hypertensive individuals aged 45 and older.

January 10, 2026Scientific Reports0 citationsOpen Access

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and depression in middle-aged and older adults with hypertension: insights from the CHARLS study

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Elevated triglyceride-glucose index levels are associated with a 74% increased risk of depression in hypertensive middle-aged and older adults. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

HWHaiyan WeiKashi University LLLe LiangKashi University QXQingwen XiaoKashi University

Key Result

Participants in the highest quartile of the triglyceride-glucose index had a 74% increased risk of depression (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.21-2.51, P < 0.001).

Key Points

This research explores the link between the triglyceride-glucose index and depression risk in hypertensive individuals aged 45 and older.
Analyzed longitudinal data from 3549 participants in the CHARLS study.
Categorized triglyceride-glucose index levels into quartiles.
Defined depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
Utilized logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis to assess the relationship.
Participants in the highest TyG quartile had a 74% higher risk of depression (OR: 1.74).
A linear dose-response relationship was observed between TyG levels and depression risk.
The TyG index proved to be a more accurate predictor of depression than triglyceride or glucose measures.

Structured PICO

Does an elevated triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index predict incident depression in middle-aged and older adults with hypertension?

Population

3,549 hypertensive adults aged ≥ 45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) cohort, mean age 61.1, 51.3% female. Key exclusions: baseline depression in 2011, history of memory disorders or mental health conditions, missing triglyceride/glucose data, or missing CESD-10 scores.

Intervention

Elevated triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index (highest quartile, ≥ 9.19)

Comparator

Lowest quartile of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index (< 8.32)

Outcome

Incident depression (defined as a score of ≥ 12 on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CESD-10]) at 2018 follow-uppatient reported

Elevated triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is independently associated with an increased risk of incident depression in middle-aged and older adults with hypertension, suggesting its utility as a metabolic biomarker for depression risk stratification.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Depression is a common comorbidity in hypertensive patients, but its metabolic predictors remain underexplored. This study investigates the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and depression risk in hypertensive individuals aged ≥ 45 years. Using longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we analyzed 3549 participants, categorizing TyG levels into quartiles and defining depression based on a score of ≥ 12 on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Logistic regression indicated that participants in the highest TyG quartile had a significantly higher risk of depression (odds ratio OR: 1.74, 95% confidence interval CI 1.21-2.51, P < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a linear dose-response relationship. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the TyG index was a more accurate predictor of depression risk compared to individual triglyceride and glucose measures. These findings suggest that elevated TyG levels are associated with an increased risk of depression in hypertensive middle-aged and older adults, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for identifying high-risk individuals.

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