Background Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major global health burden, particularly in developing regions. While HPV infection is the primary cause, metabolic factors like insulin resistance are increasingly implicated. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a marker of insulin resistance, has been linked to various cancers but its role in CC is underexplored. Methods A preliminary exploration of the relationship between the TyG index and cervical cancer using the NHANES database, followed by validation of this association with data from Zibo Municipal Hospital and Shandong Cancer Hospital. TyG index was calculated and quartile-categorized. The association between the TyG index and cervical cancer was analyzed using logistic regression after adjusting for relevant covariates. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were used to explore the non-linear relationship between the TyG index and cervical cancer odds, while ROC curves were employed to assess the diagnostic performance of the TyG index for cervical cancer. Results Higher TyG index levels were significantly associated with increased odds of CC in both NHANES and hospital datasets. The association remained consistent across adjusted models. ROC analysis showed moderate diagnostic performance, especially for advanced-stage CC. Conclusion Elevated TyG index were positively correlated with the odds of CC. Individuals with higher TyG index values should be vigilant about the increased odds of developing and progressing CC. Future studies are required to verify the association between them with larger-scale cohorts.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.