Abstract
BACKGROUND: While Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with insulin resistance and higher mortality, research on insulin resistance indices and outcomes in H. pylori-infected patients is scarce. This study examines the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, an insulin resistance marker, and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in these patients. METHODS: This study analyzed NHANES 1999-2000 data to assess the association between the TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in H. pylori-infected patients using weighted Cox models and restricted cubic spline analysis. RESULTS: Among 627 participants with a median follow-up of 20.8 years, 108 all-cause and 28 cardiovascular deaths occurred. Cox models showed that TyG was linked to a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.70 for all-cause mortality (95% CI: 1.23-2.34, P < 0.01) and an HR of 2.90 for cardiovascular mortality (95% CI: 1.91-4.42, P < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed a linear relationship between the TyG index and both mortality risks. Stratified analyses showed that this relationship was significantly associated in most subgroups, but there was no significant interaction. CONCLUSION: Higher TyG index is strongly linked to increased risks of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in H. pylori-infected patients.