The association of triglyceride-glucose related indices with benign prostatic hyperplasia: insights from the CHARLS

Abstract Introduction Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease among middle-aged and older men, often linked to obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. It causes lower urinary tract symptoms and impacts their quality of life. While the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a known marker for metabolic syndrome, its relationship with BPH remains underexplored. This study investigates the association between TyG-related indices and the risk of BPH to uncover potential clinical implications. Methods This study analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), involving 3,460 men aged 45 and older who were free of BPH at baseline. During a 7-year follow-up, new BPH cases were recorded. Baseline data included TyG, Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI), and TyG-related indices. Statistical methods including Cox proportional hazards regression, Restricted Cubic Splines, Kaplan-Meier curves, and subgroup analyses were used to assess the relationship between these indices and BPH. Results Over a 7-year follow-up, 745 participants developed BPH. Our analysis revealed that higher values of TyG-related indices were significantly associated with an elevated risk of BPH. TyG and CVAI had a linear relationship with BPH risk, while TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR and TyG-CVAI showed a nonlinear association. No significant interaction was observed in the subgroup analysis. Conclusion There is a strong link between TyG-related indices and the risk of BPH, consistent across Chinese populations. The risk of BPH rises with higher metabolic indices, notably CVAI. These findings suggest new avenues for early prevention and intervention. Future research should investigate the mechanisms of these indices.