The　C-reactive　protein(CRP)-triglyceride　glucose　index　(CTI)　is　a　new　composite　biomarker　used　to　assess　inflammation　and　insulin　resistance(IR)　severity.　Heart　failure　(HF)　poses　a　substantial　epidemiological　threat　with　increasing　incidence　and　mortality　worldwide.　However,　the　relationship　between　CTI　and　HF　has　not　been　extensively　investigated.　Using　cross-sectional　data　from　the　National　Health　and　Nutrition　Examination　Survey　(NHANES)　2001–2010,　21,974　participants　≥　20　years　were　included.　HF　diagnosis　was　based　on　self-reported　medical　history.　Multivariable　logistic　regression　adjusted　for　demographic,　lifestyle,　and　clinical　covariates.　Smooth　curve　fitting　analyzed　dose-response　relationships,　while　subgroup　analyses　explored　effect　heterogeneity.　The　research　cohort　comprised　21,974　individuals　(631　HF　cases,　21,343　non-HF).　HF　patients　exhibited　significantly　higher　CTI　levels　(p　＜　0.001),　and　a　positive　correlation　with　HF　prevalence　was　observed　(p　＜　0.001).　Consistent　positive　associations　were　maintained　across　subgroups,　with　no　significant　interactions　detected.　Logistic　regression　analysis　demonstrated　adjusted　ORs　for　HF　per　1-unit　CTI　increase　of　1.492　(model　1,　unadjusted)　and　1.279　(model　3,　fully　adjusted).　Quartile　analysis　revealed　a　progressive　increase　in　prevalent　HF　with　higher　CTI　levels,　and　model　3　confirmed　a　nonlinear　dose-response　relationship　(p　＜　0.001)　with　a　threshold　at　11.657.　CTI　is　positively　associated　with　the　presence　of　HF　in　US　adults,　suggesting　its　potential　as　a　biomarker　for　HF　prevention　and　treatment　strategies.　©　The　Author(s)　2025.