The Leuko-Glycemic Index Can Predict Ischemia in Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy

Abstract

Background: Ischemic heart disease is frequently diagnosed with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). The leuko-glycemic index (LGI) has also been shown to estimate myocardial ischemia (MI). The purpose of this research was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of LGI in determining MI by contrasting it with MPS. Methods: A retrospective study was performed involving patients who presented with chest pain and were referred for MPS by cardiology outpatient clinics. The study included 143 patients after applying exclusion criteria and measuring LGI. According to MPS, patients were classified into two as ischemic and non-ischemic groups. Results: The study consisted of 99 (69.2%) men and 44 women (30.8%) with a mean age of 60.33±13.83 years. Individuals were split into two categories: ischemic (n=56) and non-ischemic (n=87). No statistically significant difference exists between the groups regarding dyslipidemia (P=0.11), smoking (P=0.17), and gender (P=0.20). There were no substantial differences across the groups including laboratory parameters (P>0.05). LGI values were substantially higher in the ischemic group (P<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the LGI to predict ischemic patients in the MPS was 0.752 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67 to 0.88; P<0.001]. The optimal cut-off value of LGI was 1,873 mg/dL·mm3 with 72% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Conclusions: LGI was an independent predictor of MI in patients with chest pain. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.