Associations of Cumulative Exposure and Dynamic Trajectories of the C-Reactive Protein-Triglyceride-Glucose Index with Incident Stroke

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in Cardiovascular Diabetology has shed light on the relationship between the C-Reactive Protein-Triglyceride-Glucose Index (CTI) and the risk of stroke in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The research, conducted by investigators at Ningxia Medical University, aimed to investigate the association between changes in CTI and stroke risk. The study analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and found that the risk of stroke increased with higher levels of cumulative CTI (cuCTI). The study's findings suggest that monitoring long-term CTI changes and maintaining relatively low levels may help prevent stroke in this population.

Key Takeaways:

  • The C-Reactive Protein-Triglyceride-Glucose Index (CTI) has been proposed as a novel biomarker for insulin resistance and inflammation.
  • The study included 4,364 participants, among whom 323 (7.4%) experienced a stroke.
  • The risk of stroke increased with higher levels of cumulative CTI (cuCTI).
  • Participants in the highest quartile (Q4) of cuCTI had a significantly increased risk of stroke by 103% (HR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.30-2.78, P < 0.001).
  • Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of stroke was associated with higher levels of cuCTI, even after adjusting for other risk factors.
  • The study's findings suggest that monitoring long-term CTI changes and maintaining relatively low levels may help prevent stroke in this population.
  • The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) provided the data for this study.

Statistics:

  • 4,364 participants were included in the study, representing almost 90% of the total CHARLS sample size.
  • 7.4% of participants (323 individuals) experienced a stroke during the follow-up period.
  • The risk of stroke increased by 103% in participants with the highest quartile (Q4) of cumulative CTI (cuCTI) compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1).
  • Cox regression analysis showed that the HR for stroke was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.30-2.78) for each unit increase in cuCTI.
  • The study's findings suggest that every 1-unit increase in cuCTI is associated with a 90% increased risk of stroke.

Sources:

  • Investigators at Ningxia Medical University. "Associations of cumulative exposure and dynamic trajectories of the C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose index with incident stroke in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: a longitudinal analysis based on CHARLS." Cardiovascular Diabetology, 2025;24(1):386.
  • China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).
  • Ningxia Medical University, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia, People's Republic of China.
  • Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England (Publisher of Cardiovascular Diabetology).
  • NewsRx LLC. "Investigators at Ningxia Medical University Report New Data on Cardiovascular Diabetology (Associations of cumulative exposure and dynamic trajectories of the C-reactive protein-triglyceride-glucose index with incident stroke in middle-aged and ...)." Proteomics Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 197.