Evaluation of Triglyceride-Glucose Index as a Marker of Insulin Resistance in Non-Obese Young Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Aim: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is frequently associated with insulin resistance (IR), even in non-obese women. The triglyceride-glucose index (TGI) has recently emerged as a potential surrogate marker of IR. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of TGI as a marker for IR in non-obese young women with PCOS.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 84 non-obese women aged 18–35 years newly diagnosed with PCOS were compared with 73 age-matched healthy controls. TGI was calculated using fasting plasma triglycerides level and fasting plasma glucose, and values were compared between groups. The ROC curve was used to calculate the optimal TGI cut-off value and the sensitivity and specificity of this value between the PCOS and control groups.Results: No significant difference was detected between the groups in terms of age (p =0.084). TGI value was found to be 8.26 [8.14, 8.42] in the control group and 8.52 [8.46, 8.75] in the PCOS group (p<0.001). Optimal ROC cutoff value of TGI between control and PCOS groups was calculated as 8.44 with 86% sensitivity and 86% specificity (AUC: 0.904 P<0.001 95% CI 0.856-0.951).Conclusion: TGI levels are significantly higher in young, non-obese women with PCOS, suggesting that it could be a simple, cost-effective and reliable indicator of insulin resistance in this group. These findings emphasise the importance of assessing metabolic risk in non-obese patients with PCOS and indicate a possible application for TGI in routine clinical screening.