Progression in intima media thickness--the significance of hormonal biomarkers of chronic stress.
OBJECTIVE
The pathophysiological pathways from stress caused by psychosocial stress to IHD has not been dealt with very extensively. The objective of this study was to analyse the association between cortisol levels and progression in intima media thickness (IMT).


RESULTS
In 1998 and 2002, 95 participants went through a clinical investigation including ultrasound of the artery carotis communis. Progression in IMT was analysed in relation to levels of salivary cortisol in 1998 and the average levels of salivary cortisol in 1998/2002. Further, the significance of conventional coronary risk factors, testosterone and dehydro-epiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) were evaluated. Among the men, only age and HDL-cholesterol (negative) were significantly correlated with progression in IMT. Among the women, awakening cortisol response was significantly correlated with progression in IMT. Testosterone and DHEAS were borderline significantly associated (negatively) with progression in IMT in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Progression in atherosclerosis were determined by different risk factors in women and men. The awakening cortisol response was of great importance to IMT progression in women but not in men.
Eller
Nanna Hurwitz
NH
Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Hillerød Sygehus, Denmark. nael@fa.dk
Netterstrøm
Bo
B
Allerup
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone