Cumulative Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Risk of Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Fatty Liver Disease: Findings from the Kailuan Cohort

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the cumulative triglyceride-glucose (cum-TyG) index and the risk of new-onset metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Patients and Methods: The present study involved 89,831 participants selected from the Kailuan cohort. The cum-TyG index was evaluated by determining the weighted average of TyG index values recorded at each visit. Participants were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of cum-TyG index or the duration of high TyG index exposure. To investigate the association between levels of the cum-TyG index and the risk of new-onset MAFLD, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 16,387 cases of new-onset MAFLD were recorded over a median follow-up duration of 10 years. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) significantly increased in quartile 2 (HR: 1.306, 95% CI: 1.246-1.367), quartile 3 (HR: 1.423, 95% CI: 1.357-1.492), and quartile 4 (HR: 1.648, 95% CI: 1.571-1.730), when compared to quartile 1. A similar pattern was noted for 2-year high TyG index exposure (HR: 1.267, 95% CI: 1.200-1.338), 4-year high TyG index exposure (HR: 1.642, 95% CI: 1.557-1.731), and 6-year high TyG index exposure (HR: 2.122, 95% CI: 2.010-2.239), when compared to 0-year high TyG index exposure. Conclusion: The cum-TyG index may provide important information for risk assessment of MAFLD.