Sex Differences in the Relationship Between High-Risk Drinking and the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index: An Analysis Using 2013 and 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data.

AIMS The alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) was developed to evaluate excessive drinking in primary care. The triglyceride (TG) glucose (TyG) index is a novel marker used for assessing insulin resistance. We sought to document relationships between high-risk drinking according to AUDIT and the TyG index and to evaluate whether the TyG index is more correlated with high-risk drinking than TG or fasting plasma glucose (FPG). METHODS We analyzed data for 7014 participants in the 2013 and 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Excessive drinking risk groups were categorized according to AUDIT scores (low-risk, 0-7 in men and 0-6 in women; moderate-risk, 8-14 in men and 7-12 in women; and high-risk, ≥15 in men and ≥13 in women). RESULTS In men, compared with low-risk individuals, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for higher TyG index values were 1.84 (1.16-2.93) in the moderate- and 2.82 (1.86-4.30) in the high-risk groups. The correlation coefficient for the TyG index and AUDIT score was significantly higher than those for TG and FPG. No significant associations were noted in women. CONCLUSION High-risk drinking is significantly associated with higher TyG index values in men only. The TyG index can be a novel marker for assessing high-risk drinking in men.