Sex Differences in the Relationship Between High-Risk Drinking and the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index: An Analysis Using 2013 and 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data

Abstract

Aims: The alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) was developed to evaluate excessive drinking in primary care. The triglyceride (TG) glucose (TyG) index is a novel marker used for assessing insulin resistance. We sought to document relationships between high-risk drinking according to AUDIT and the TyG index and to evaluate whether the TyG index is more correlated with high-risk drinking than TG or fasting plasma glucose (FPG).

Methods: We analyzed data for 7014 participants in the 2013 and 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Excessive drinking risk groups were categorized according to AUDIT scores (low-risk, 0-7 in men and 0-6 in women; moderate-risk, 8-14 in men and 7-12 in women; and high-risk, ≥15 in men and ≥13 in women).

Results: In men, compared with low-risk individuals, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for higher TyG index values were 1.84 (1.16-2.93) in the moderate- and 2.82 (1.86-4.30) in the high-risk groups. The correlation coefficient for the TyG index and AUDIT score was significantly higher than those for TG and FPG. No significant associations were noted in women.

Conclusion: High-risk drinking is significantly associated with higher TyG index values in men only. The TyG index can be a novel marker for assessing high-risk drinking in men.