Association between triglyceride-glucose index, modified triglyceride-glucose indices and hearing loss among US adults: A cross-sectional study

The relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, modified TyG indices, and hearing loss in the US population is not well comprehended. The cross-sectional study made use of data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database between 2007 and 2018. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationships between the TyG index, its modified versions, and hearing loss. Potential confounding factors including demographic characteristics, smoking status, noise exposure history, and relevant comorbidities were also adjusted for model. Additionally, stratified subgroup analyses were performed to further assess the strength and consistency of associations across different population characteristics. Of the 2197 included participants, 144 (6.6%) had low-frequency hearing loss, 221 (10.1%) had speech-frequency hearing loss, and 642 (29.2%) had high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL). In the fully adjusted model, the TyG-BMI index in the third quartile (Q3) and fourth quartile (Q4) was significantly associated with HFHL, with OR (95% CI) of 2.261 (1.112, 4.599) and 2.865 (1.087, 7.552), respectively. Similarly, the TyG-WC index demonstrated significant associations with HFHL in Q3 and Q4, with OR (95% CI) of 2.201 (1.139, 4.253) and 2.470 (1.227, 4.971), respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated that these associations were more prominent among individuals with diabetes. Increased TyG-BMI and TyG-WC indices were strongly linked to a greater risk of HFHL. The modified TyG indices demonstrated superior clinical utility compared to the traditional TyG index.