Associations of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and glucose index and triglyceride–glucose-related indices with carotid atherosclerosis in young and middle-aged individuals

Background: Associations of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose (CHG) index and triglyceride-glucose (TYG)-related indices are biomarkers of insulin resistance. However, the relationships between carotid atherosclerosis and the CHG index and TYG-related indices in young and middle-aged people are unclear. This cross-sectional study reported such associations in a general population. Methods: A total of 9,110 participants aged between 18 and 60 years were included. TYG index (ln(triglyceride (mg/dL) × blood glucose (mg/dL)/2), TYG-BMI index (TYG×BMI), TYG/HDL index (TYG/HDL cholesterol), and CHG index (ln[cholesterol (mg/dL) × blood glucose (mg/dL)/2 × HDL (mg/dL)) were calculated. The associations between carotid atherosclerosis and CHG- and TYG-related indices were analyzed via logistic regression analyses. Results: Carotid atherosclerosis was observed in 3,089 (33.9%) participants. CHG index was significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis (odds ratio (OR): 2.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.87-3.26; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.42-2.26). Similar associations were observed for the TYG index (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: CI: 1.08-1.48; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08-1.62), TY-BMI (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.15-2.11) and TYG/HDL (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.13; Q4 vs. Q1, OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.32-1.94). CHG had better performance than the TYG, TYGBMI, and TYGHDL in identifying carotid atherosclerosis (the area under the curve was 0.642 vs 0.599, 0.620, and 0.612, respectively). Conclusion: CHG index and TYG-related indices were associated with carotid atherosclerosis in young and middle-aged individuals. CHG had better performance than did TYG-related indices in identifying carotid atherosclerosis.