Relationship between a novel non-insulin-based metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) and coronary artery calcification

Abstract

Background and aims: A novel non-insulin-based metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index has been proposed as a simple and reliable alternative insulin resistance (IR) marker, but its the predictive value in asymptomatic adults with coronary artery calcification (CAC) remains unclear.

Methods and results: We enrolled 1576 participants without cardiovascular disease (CVD), who underwent multidetector computed tomography. Logistic regression, restricted cubic spline models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to examine the association between METS-IR, the ratio of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) and triglyceride glucose index (TyG index) and CAC. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the increase in METS-IR was independently associated with a higher prevalence of CAC (all P < 0.05 in Models 1-3). Furthermore, restricted cubic splines indicated that the significance of METS-IR in predicting CAC was higher than that of other IR indexes. In ROC curve analysis, without considering the P value, the area under the curve of CAC predicted by METS-IR was higher than that of other IR indexes (METS-IR, 0.607; TyG index, 0.603; TG/HDL-C, 0.577).

Conclusion: Compared with other IR indexes, METS-IR may have better discrimination ability in predicting the incidence of CAC in asymptomatic adults without CVD.

Keywords: Coronary artery calcification; Insulin resistance; Metabolic score for insulin resistance; Triglyceride glucose index.