Diabetes is the missing link between cardiometabolic index and gallstones: a large cross-sectional study

The cardiometabolic index (CMI), which integrates individual lipid and visceral fat parameters, represents a superior new predictive tool for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, but its predictive value for gallstones (GS) is unclear. Therefore, the present study used this vacancy to explore the relationship between CMI levels and GS in US adults, assess the mediating role of diabetes mellitus in the pathogenesis of both, and provide new clinical ideas for early prevention and screening of GS in patients with diabetes mellitus. This survey extracted information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020 vintage cycle. Cross-sectional analyses and a variety of statistical techniques were used to analyze the correlation between CMI and GS, including logistic regression, propensity score matching, subject work curves, and restricted cubic spline (RCS). Furthermore, mediation analysis was used to investigate whether and to what extent diabetes mediated the effect of CMI on GS. After analysis of 3,395 participants, a significant positive correlation was observed between elevated CMI levels and increased prevalence of GS In the fully corrected model (Model 4), the prevalence of GS exhibited a 23% increase for every incremental unit rise in logarithmically transformed CM. Mediation analysis showed that diabetes largely mediated the association between CMI and GS, with a mediation ratio of 15.1%. Higher CMI levels are closely linked to a greater occurrence of GS, and diabetes plays a key mediating role in the pathogenesis of both. Addressing dyslipidemia while not neglecting blood glucose levels, and co-management of the two may be a proven way to reduce GS risk.