Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with blood pressure and hypertension in a large adult population: A cross-sectional study

Background The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), a marker of insulin resistance, has been linked to various cardiometabolic disorders. However, its association with blood pressure (BP) and hypertension remains inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the association between the TyG index and BP, hypertension, and prehypertension in a large sample of Iranians. Methods This cross-sectional analysis utilized baseline data from 7,996 participants in the PERSIAN Kharameh cohort study. Multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models were employed to assess the relationship between the TyG index and BP components (systolic BP, diastolic BP, pulse rate), as well as hypertension and prehypertension. The predictive performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results A positive relationship was observed between the TyG index and systolic BP, diastolic BP, and pulse rate, even after adjusting for confounding variables. Furthermore, each one-unit increase in the TyG index was associated with a 21% increase in the odds of hypertension (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.40) and a 34% increase in the odds of prehypertension (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.17–1.54). However, the discriminative ability of the TyG index for diagnosing hypertension and prehypertension was modest, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.571 and 0.574, respectively. Conclusion The TyG index is significantly and independently associated with higher BP levels and increased odds of hypertension and prehypertension. However, its utility as a standalone diagnostic tool for hypertension is limited.