We employed generalized additive models (GAM) and smooth curve fitting to further investigate the potential nonlinear relationship between the TyG index and carotid plaques in the overall population and across different gender groups (adjusted for age, sex, BMI, waistline, smoking, alcohol, education, occupation, SBP, DBP, AST/ALT, creatinine, TC, HDL-c, LDL-c, antilipemic medication, antihypertension medication, diabetes, urinary protein and history of myocardial infarction) (Figure 2). The gene discussed is GPT; the disease is myocardial infarction.