Positive association of triglyceride glucose index and gestational diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder with important health implications for both mother and offspring. This study aims to assess the relationship between the Triglyceride Glucose (TyG) index and GDM and explore its clinical significance. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included 631 singleton pregnant women. The study collected data on the TyG index, glucose levels, and clinical outcomes from all participants. Research objectives were validated using logistic regression analysis and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves. Results: We found an independent correlation between TyG index and increased risk of GDM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.11 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.09-4.63, P<0.001). The spline model revealed a linear association between TyG index and GDM in early pregnancy (non-linear P=0.748), and the risk of GDM increased with the increase of TyG index. In addition, we found that TyG has high diagnostic performance in predicting GDM, with an AUC value of 0.668. Combined with Age, it can improve predictive performance, with an AUC value of 0.684. Compared to the lower quartile of the TyG index, women in the higher quartile have a higher incidence of premature birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). In the GDM group, the TyG index was negatively correlated with 25 (OH) D and TBIL, and positively correlated with FBG, TG, and TC. Conclusions: The TyG index is strongly linked to the development of GDM and is an independent risk factor for predicting it. Monitoring TyG levels in early pregnancy is valuable for identifying women at high risk for GDM.