Work

NLR–TyG index and prevalent chronic kidney disease in hypertension: a cross-population study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction are interrelated in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The NLR–TyG index (NTI), calculated from the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index, summarizes concurrent inflammatory and metabolic burden. We examined its association with prevalent CKD in hypertensive adults from a Chinese cardiology inpatient population and the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods This cross-sectional study included hypertensive adults from the Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, and NHANES. NTI was analyzed continuously and by cohort-specific quartiles. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines assessed associations. Subgroup, sensitivity, and incremental discrimination analyses were also performed. Results The analysis included 8,358 hospital participants (1,800 with CKD) and 9,182 NHANES participants (2,751 with CKD). In fully adjusted models, each 1-unit increase in NTI was associated with higher odds of CKD in the hospital population [odds ratio (OR), 1.012; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.010–1.014] and NHANES (OR, 1.021; 95% CI, 1.013–1.029; both p < 0.001). Compared with the lowest NTI quartile, the highest quartile was associated with higher CKD odds in the hospital population (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 2.38–3.40) and NHANES (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.56–2.38; both P for trend <0.001). Significant nonlinearity was detected only in the hospital population. Associations persisted among participants with known non-use of lipid-lowering therapy. Adding NTI increased the C statistic from 0.769 to 0.778 in the hospital population and from 0.772 to 0.778 in NHANES; discrimination was similar when NLR and TyG were entered separately. Conclusion Higher NTI was independently associated with prevalent CKD in both hypertensive populations and provided modest incremental discrimination. NTI may offer a simple summary of inflammatory–metabolic burden, but prospective prediction and clinical utility require further validation.

Source: Frontiers in Nutrition

DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1917577

Authors: Honglin Li, Chuanwei Zhao, Mingpeng Zhao, Xinhua Wu

Institutions: Dali University, West Yunnan University of Applied Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes

Subfield: Nephrology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801