The triglyceride-glucose index: a novel predictor of stroke and all-cause mortality in liver transplantation recipients

Background The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, identified as a reliable indicator of insulin resistance (IR), was reported to be associated with stroke recurrence and morbidity in the general population and critically ill patients. However, the relationship in liver transplantation (LT) recipients remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the TyG index and post-LT stroke along with all-cause mortality and further assess the influence of IR on the LT recipients’ prognosis. Methods The retrospective cohort study enrolled 959 patients who underwent LT at a university-based medical centre between January 2015 and January 2021. The participants were divided into three groups according to their TyG index tertiles. The primary outcome was post-LT stroke. Multivariate logistic regression, COX proportional hazards regression, and restricted cubic spline RCS were used to examine the association between the TyG index and outcomes in LT recipients. Results With a median TyG index of 8.23 (7.78–8.72), 780 (87.18% males) patients were eventually included. The incidence of post-LT stroke was 5.38%, and the in-hospital, 1-year, and 3-year mortality rates were 5.54%, 13.21%, and 15.77%, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed an independent association between the TyG index and an increased risk of post-LT stroke [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 3.398 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.371–8.426) P = 0. 008], in-hospital mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 2.326 (95% CI: 1.089–4.931) P = 0.025], 1-year mortality [aHR, 1.668 (95% CI: 1.024–2.717) P = 0.039], and 3-year mortality [aHR, 1.837 (95% CI: 1.445–2.950) P = 0.012]. Additional RCS analysis also suggested a linear increase in the risk of postoperative stroke with elevated TyG index ( P for nonlinearity = 0.480). Conclusions The TyG index may be a valuable and reliable indicator for assessing stroke risk and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing LT, suggesting its potential relevance in improving risk stratification during the peri-LT period.