Association between triglyceride glucose index and obstructive sleep apnea risk in Korean adults: a cross-sectional cohort study

Abstract Background Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a reliable marker of insulin resistance, which is linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the relationship between TyG index and OSA has not been adequately assessed. This study aimed to evaluate the association between TyG index and OSA. Methods TyG index was assessed in 180 (mean age: 48.6 ± 13.8 years; 73.9% male) consecutive Korean adults with suspected OSA admitted to the sleep clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital between 2010 and 2012. The occurrence of more than 5 apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) events/h was used to define OSA. TyG index was calculated using the following equation: In [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. All participants were grouped according to TyG index tertiles. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with increased OSA risk. Results The overall prevalence of OSA in study participants was determined to be 83.9%. The prevalence of OSA increased (I [lowest]: 71.6%; II: 88.7%; III [highest]: 91.4%), and lowest peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels decreased (I: 83.3 ± 8.5%; II: 79.9 ± 8.7%; III: 79.0 ± 8.3%), as TyG index tertile increased (P