We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Salivary Cortisol Is Related to Atherosclerosis of Carotid Arteries.
- Authors
Dekker, M. J. H. J.; Koper, J. W.; van Aken, M. O.; Pols, H. A. P.; Hofman, A.; de Jong, F. H.; Kirschbaum, C.; Witteman, J. C. M.; Lamberts, S. W. J.; Tiemeier, H.
- Abstract
Background: Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been suggested as an independent risk factor for ischemic heart disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether two markers of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, the level of salivary cortisol and the diurnal salivary cortisol pattern, are associated with atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries in an elderly population. Methods and Results: A total of 1866 participants of the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study in the elderly, provided four salivary cortisol samples throughout 1 d, and underwent ultrasonography to examine the presence of plaques in the common, internal, and bifurcation sites of both carotid arteries. Two summary measures of the separate cortisol values were computed: area under the curve (AUC), which is a measure of total cortisol exposure while awake; and the slope, which is a measure of diurnal cortisol decline. Results: Total cortisol exposure while awake (AUC) was associated with higher plaque scores (β = 0.08 per SD of AUC, 95% confidence interval 0.00–0.16; P = 0.04) in a fully adjusted linear regression model. Persons with an AUC in the highest tertile had a higher number of plaques of carotid arteries compared with those in the lowest tertile (3.08 vs. 2.80, 95% confidence interval of difference 0.09–0.48; P = 0.005). There was no relation between diurnal cortisol decline and plaque score. Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that increased total cortisol exposure is independently associated with atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries.
- Publication
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2008, Vol 93, Issue 10, p3741
- ISSN
0021-972X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1210/jc.2008-0496