A Critical Curve: Unveiling the U-Shaped Relationship Between the TG/HDL Ratio and All-Cause Mortality in Obese Sepsis

sciencedirect.com September 24, 2025

This study analyzed 938 obese sepsis patients to investigate the prognostic significance of lipid metabolism abnormalities, focusing specifically on the Triglyceride-to-HDL (TG/HDL) ratio as a predictor of all-cause mortality.

Key Findings:

Significant Prognostic Value: The TG/HDL ratio was significantly linked to mortality in the obese sepsis population.

Unique Relationship: The study identified a distinct U-shaped relationship between the TG/HDL ratio and mortality for values less than 8. This means that mortality risk was highest when the ratio was either very low or moderately high, with a potential inflection point observed around 3.59.

Clinical Implications: This U-shaped pattern was further confirmed by the Kaplan-Meier curve and indicated a significant interaction with hypertension.

By highlighting this unexpected U-shaped relationship, the findings offer novel insights for refining risk stratification strategies and advancing the understanding of lipid metabolism’s role in critical illness among obese patients with sepsis.