Long-term elevated cortisol may be important cardiovascular risk factor

Not about Cushing's exactly, but this article does underscore cardiovascular risk that Cushies face, particularly why diagnosis is critically important to prevent associated diseases.

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Diabetes / Endocrinology News

• Hair Analysis Can Show Elevated Cortisol Levels
  
  
  Hair analysis reveals longer-term cortisol levels; may be helpful in CV risk assessment
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, detectable in hair samples, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online April 17 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, detectable in hair samples, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online April 17 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Laura Manenschijn, M.D., from the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, and colleagues randomly selected 283 community-dwelling elderly participants (median age, 75 years) from a population-based cohort. Three centimeter hair segments were used to measure cortisol.

The researchers found that hair cortisol levels were significantly lower in women than in men (21.0 pg/mg hair versus 26.3 pg/mg hair). There was a significantly increased cardiovascular risk associated with high hair cortisol levels (odds ratio, 2.7) as well as a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 3.2). Hair cortisol levels were not found to be associated with non-cardiovascular diseases.

"The increased cardiovascular risk we found is equivalent to the effect of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting that long-term elevated cortisol may be an important cardiovascular risk factor," the authors write.

http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/MedicalNewsDetail.aspx?id=9128&topic=mc-topic::KA8A584VY&printview=true&tabIndex=

*****Abstract below*****

High Long-Term Cortisol Levels, Measured in Scalp Hair, Are Associated With a History of Cardiovascular Disease

 Authors

1. L. Manenschijn,
2. L. Schaap,
3. N. M. van Schoor,
4. S. van der Pas,
5. G. M. E. E. Peeters,
6. P. Lips,
7. J. W. Koper and
8. E. F. C. van Rossum

1. Department of Internal Medicine (L.M., J.W.K., E.F.C.v.R.), Erasmus MC, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (L.S., N.M.v.S., S.v.d.P., G.M.E.E.P., P.L.), EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; University of Queensland (G.M.E.E.P.), Schools of Human Movement Studies and Population Health, Brisbane 4029, Queensland, Australia; and Department of Endocrinology (P.L.), VU University Medical Center, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

1. Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Laura Manenschijn, Erasmus MC, Department of Internal Medicine, Room Ee-542, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: l.manenschijn@erasmusmc.nl.

Abstract

Background: Stress is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. The impact of chronic stress on cardiovascular risk has been studied by measuring cortisol in serum and saliva, which are measurements of only 1 time point. These studies yielded inconclusive results. The measurement of cortisol in scalp hair is a novel method that provides the opportunity to measure long-term cortisol exposure. Our aim was to study whether long-term cortisol levels, measured in scalp hair, are associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: A group of 283 community-dwelling elderly participants were randomly selected from a large population-based cohort study (median age, 75 y; range, 65–85 y). Cortisol was measured in 3-cm hair segments, corresponding roughly with a period of 3 months. Self-reported data concerning coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes mellitus, and other chronic noncardiovascular diseases were collected.

Results: Hair cortisol levels were significantly lower in women than in men (21.0 vs 26.3 pg/mg hair; P < .001). High hair cortisol levels were associated with an increased cardiovascular risk (odds ratio, 2.7; P = .01) and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 3.2; P = .04). There were no associations between hair cortisol levels and noncardiovascular diseases.

Conclusions: Elevated long-term cortisol levels are associated with a history of cardiovascular disease. The increased cardiovascular risk we found is equivalent to the effect of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting that long-term elevated cortisol may be an important cardiovascular risk factor.

• Received October 19, 2012.
• Accepted February 22, 2013.

• Copyright © 2013 by The Endocrine Society

1. Published online before printApril 17, 2013, doi:10.1210/jc.2012-3663 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism April 17, 2013jc.2012-3663