Serum triglyceride to high‐density lipoproteincholesterol ratio as an independent marker of frailty in older adults: A cross‐sectional study

Background The triglyceride to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL‐C) ratio is a well‐known marker of cardiometabolic risk and insulin resistance and has been linked to metabolic diseases and sarcopenia in older adults, yet its association with frailty remains underexplored. Given the association of frailty with these conditions, our study aims to explore the previously unexamined link between TG/HDL‐C and frailty. Methods This cross‐sectional study analyzed 520 patients aged ≥65 years who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessments. Frailty was defined using the Fried Frailty Phenotype. Associations between TG/HDL‐C and frailty were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression with adjustments for confounding variables. Results The mean age of the participants was 75.2 ± 6.4, with 62.1% ( n = 323) being women and 20.2% ( n = 105) classified as frail. Frail patients exhibited a higher TG/HDL‐C ratio than the nonfrail group ( P = 0.001). When the relationship between fat measurements and frailty was analyzed separately for men and women, the TG/HDL‐C ratio was significantly higher in the frail group for both male and female patients ( P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the TG/HDL‐C ratio was significantly and independently associated with frailty even after adjusting for potential confounding factors ( β = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.11–1.51, P = 0.001). The optimal TG/HDL‐C cutoff for frailty was >2.82 (area under the curve = 0.608; negative predictive value = 89.7%). Conclusion TG/HDL‐C is significantly associated with frailty in older adults. Further research is needed to explore causal relationships and clinical implications.