Triglyceride Glucose Index and Free Fatty Acids Impact Heart Health

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and emerging indicators such as the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and free fatty acids (FFAs) may play a vital role in cardiovascular health and disease pathophysiology.

Method: This study is a multicenter observational analysis involving 500 CAD patients. The primary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) over two years, assessed through clinical follow-up and statistical analysis using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: The study found that patients with a high TyG index (above 8.5) exhibited a 25% higher incidence of MACE compared to those with a lower index (P=0.002). FFAs levels were also positively correlated with increased risk, showing a 10% risk increment per unit increase of FFAs (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that the TyG index and FFAs are significant predictors of cardiovascular outcomes in CAD patients, supporting their inclusion in routine cardiovascular risk assessment, particularly for high-risk groups. Limitations include the observational nature of the study and the need for validation through randomized controlled trials.

Original citation address: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2026.015