Triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol ratio and the incidence risk of type 2 diabetes in community dwelling adults: A longitudinal 12-year analysis of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2020 May:163:108150. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108150. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Abstract

Aims: Serum triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is known to be associated with cardiometabolic diseases. This study is aimed to evaluate the association between the TG/HDL-C ratio and incident type 2 diabetes with a large-sample, community-based Korean cohort over 12 years.

Methods: Among 10,038 participants, a total of 8655 participants aged 40 to 69 years without diabetes were selected from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). The baseline TG/HDL-C ratio was divided into quartiles. Newly developed type 2 diabetes was defined by any of the following: a fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 126 mg/dL; a glucose level ≥ 200 mg/dL 2-hours after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test; an HbA1c ≥ 6.5%; or treatment with anti-diabetic therapy. The hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident type 2 diabetes were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models after adjusting for potentially confounding variables.

Results: During the 12-year follow-up period, type 2 diabetes developed in 1437 subjects (16.6%, 1437/8655), with incidence rate of 2.8-5.0 (over 2 years). Compared to the reference first quartile, the HRs (95% CIs) of incident type 2 diabetes in the second, third, and fourth quartiles increased in a dose-response manner after adjusting for potentially confounding variables.

Conclusions: High TG/HDL-C ratio at baseline may be a useful surrogate indicator of future incident type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: Insulin resistance; TG/HDL-C ratio; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MeSH terms

  • Cholesterol, HDL / adverse effects*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Triglycerides / adverse effects*
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Triglycerides