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Association of the insulin resistance marker triglyceride glucose index with migraine: results of a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study

Jielong Wu, Xiaodong Yuan, Jiedong Zhao, Yeting Wu, Dan Chen, Lingshan Ma, Chu-Ya Jing, Liangcheng Zheng et al.

Journal of Oral and Facial Pain and Headache, 2025

161 participants · 9 citations

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes has been shown to reduce the risk of migraine, whereas insulin resistance (IR) is often elevated in migraineurs. The triglyceride glucose index (TyG) serves as a reliable surrogate marker of IR, which has been hypothesized to be associated with migraine pathophysiology. This study aimed to examine the relationship between TyG index scores and incidence as well as the severity of migraines through both cohort and cross-sectional analyses. Methods: Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we evaluated migraine incidence between 2015 and 2020. TyG index values were calculated using the following formula: ln[fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The impact of TyG index scores on the incidence of migraines was assessed using a multivariate-adjusted Cox regression model. The cross-sectional study included 161 patients with migraines in Xiamen, China. The relationship between TyG index scores and different migraine characteristics was examined using multivariable and ordered logistic regression models with further subgroup analysis by migraine course. Results: Among the cohort participants, 1001 new migraine cases were identified during follow-up, with no significant relationship found between TyG index scores and migraine incidence (hazard ratio = 1.024 (0.916, 1.145), p = 0.677 > 0.05). The cross-sectional study showed that migraine-related disability was significantly lower among patients in the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 161 participants or records.

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