Diagnostic value of triglyceride–glucose index and related parameters in metabolism-associated fatty liver disease in a Chinese population: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of triglyceride–glucose (TyG) and its related parameters in metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of residents who attended medical checkups at the First Hospital of Nanping City, Fujian Medical University, between 2015 and 2017. SETTING: One participation centre. PARTICIPANTS: 2605 subjects met the inclusion–exclusion criteria and were grouped according to whether they had MAFLD. RESULTS: The TyG index and its associated parameters are positively associated with the risk of developing MAFLD (p<0.001). Restriction cube spline analysis showed a significant dose–response relationship between the TyG index and MAFLD. The risk of developing MAFLD increases significantly with a higher TyG index. After adjusting for confounders, this relationship remains (OR: 4.89, 95% CI 3.98 to 6.00). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the TyG index for MAFLD detection were 0.793 (0.774 to 0.812). The areas under the curve (AUC) of TyG-related parameters were improved, among which TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC) showed the largest AUC for MAFLD detection (0.873, 95% CI 0.860 to 0.887). In addition, the best cut-off value of the TyG-WC was 716.743, with a sensitivity and specificity of 88.7% and 71.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The TyG index effectively identifies MAFLD, and the TyG-related parameters improved the identification and diagnosis of MAFLD, suggesting that TyG-related parameters, especially TyG-WC, may be a useful marker for diagnosing MAFLD.