Elevated CTI links to higher osteoarthritis risk in prediabetes
Among 3,043 prediabetic adults followed for 9 years, the highest CTI quartile showed greater osteoarthritis risk with a hazard ratio of 1.376.
Medicine
In a cohort of 3,043 middle-aged and older Chinese adults with prediabetes, higher levels of the C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose index were associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis. Researchers analyzed data across five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study over a 9-year follow-up. During this period, 946 participants (31.09%) developed osteoarthritis.
Participants in the highest quartile of the index had the greatest osteoarthritis risk (HR, 1.376; 95% CI, 1.12, 1.692). The relationship between the index and disease risk was nonlinear (P for nonlinearity = .012). Subgroup analyses showed that participants with a body mass index below 24 and between 24 and 28 were more sensitive to the adverse effects of the index on osteoarthritis risk (P for interaction = .012).
Why it matters
The index combines markers of systemic inflammation and insulin resistance. The findings suggest metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation jointly contribute to the onset of age-related joint disease.
Caveats
The study was observational, which prevents drawing causal conclusions. In addition, the analysis was limited to prediabetic adults from a single country.
The paper
Suining Central Hospital
Medicine · 1 Sep 2026 · CC BY-NC