If someone with heart disease has their bad cholesterol (LDL) well controlled under 100, then their triglyceride and sugar levels (TyG) don’t seem to add much extra risk for heart problems.

People with heart disease who have higher levels of both triglycerides and blood sugar are about 30% more likely to have a heart attack than those with lower levels, even after accounting for other health factors.

People with heart disease who have higher levels of triglycerides and blood sugar together are a bit more likely to have another serious heart problem, like a heart attack or stroke, than those with lower levels.

Doctors can use a simple calculation from two common blood tests — triglycerides and glucose — to tell if Korean women of working age might have insulin resistance, and if the number is above 8.35, it means they’re at higher risk.

People with higher insulin resistance—measured by a specific blood test—are much more likely to have heart problems or die from any cause, even if they’ve never had heart disease before.