Journal of Thoracic Disease · Sep 30, 2026

Association of triglyceride-glucose and triglyceride-glucose body mass indexes with risk and prognosis of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

By Jian Z, Chen S, Tang L et al.

BACKGROUND: The relationship of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride-glucose body mass index (TyG-BMI) with the risk of lung cancer and survival of patients with lung cancer remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to clarify the association of TyG index and TyG-BMI with the risk of lung cancer and survival of lung cancer patients. METHODS: Several databases were searched up to July 2, 2026. Odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) were combined to assess the association of TyG index and TyG-BMI with risk and prognosis of lung cancer, respectively. Subgroup analyses based on study design, tumor type, treatment and combination of diabetes mellitus (DM) were performed. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included. Pooled analyses demonstrated that higher TyG index [OR =2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.54-3.81, P<0.001] and TyG-BMI (OR =1.01, 95% CI: 1.01-1.02, P<0.001) were significantly related to increased risk of lung cancer. Subgroup analyses based on the study design and tumor type manifested similar results. However, subgroup analysis based on the combination of DM indicated that the significant association of TyG index and TyG-BMI with lung cancer risk was only observed among the population without DM. Besides, a higher TyG index was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) (HR =2.24, 95% CI: 1.49-3.37, P<0.001) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR =3.09, 95% CI: 1.78-5.37, P<0.001). TyG-BMI was also related to OS (HR =1.86, 95% CI: 1.36-2.56, P<0.001) and PFS (HR =2.34, 95% CI: 1.20-4.56, P=0.01). Subgroup analyses stratified by treatment and tumor type indicated consistent findings, but association of TyG-BMI with OS was only observed in non-diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated TyG index and TyG-BMI are significantly associated with increased risk of lung cancer and poorer survival outcomes, particularly among non-diabetic individuals.

doi.org/10.21037/jtd-2026-2109 Open access PubMed 42996990 Biomarkers