Association of the CRP–TyG Index with Early Cardiometabolic Risk in Apparently Healthy Young Adults: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Early cardiometabolic dysfunction is characterized by alterations in glucose–lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and chronic low-grade inflammation, often preceding overt metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular disease. Insulin resistance and inflammation are interconnected processes that contribute to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and progressive vascular injury. The C-reactive protein–triglyceride–glucose (CRP–TyG) index integrates biochemical surrogates of metabolic dysregulation and systemic inflammation. This study evaluated its association with early cardiometabolic abnormalities in apparently healthy young adults and compared its discriminatory performance with the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 220 apparently healthy adults aged 18–35 years. The CRP–TyG index was calculated using fasting triglycerides, plasma glucose, and hs-CRP concentrations. Early cardiometabolic abnormalities included central adiposity, elevated blood pressure, and reduced HDL cholesterol, with risk-factor clustering defined as the presence of at least two abnormalities. Multivariable regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed.Results: Risk-factor clustering was observed in 9.5% of participants and increased across CRP–TyG tertiles from 1.4% to 15.1% (p=0.007). Each 1-SD increase in CRP–TyG was associated with greater cardiometabolic risk-factor burden (common OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.36–2.68) and clustering (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.08–3.53). Associations were particularly evident for central adiposity and reduced HDL cholesterol. Discriminatory performance was moderate for CRP–TyG (AUC 0.705), compared with TyG (AUC 0.728) and hs-CRP (AUC 0.637). CRP–TyG did not significantly outperform TyG (p=0.555).Conclusion: The CRP–TyG index was associated with early cardiometabolic risk-factor burden in apparently healthy young adults, consistent with the biological interrelationship between metabolic dysfunction and low-grade inflammation. However, it did not provide superior discrimination over TyG alone. Further prospective studies are warranted to establish its incremental clinical utility.