title: Salivary cortisol and frailty syndrome in elderly residents of long-stay institutions: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Analyze the relationship between frailty and cortisol in elderly residents of long-stay institutions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of João Pessoa-PB-Brazil, on a sample of residents of long-stay institutions. Data were collected on frailty phenotype (weight loss, fatigue, slowness, weakness and low physical activity) and salivary cortisol (first measurement between 6 and 7a.m.; second measurement between 11 and 12a.m.; third measurement between 4 and 5p.m.). Statistical analysis applied Pearson's correlation test, Chi-square test, ANOVA and linear regression. The sample was composed of 69 elderly subjects, 37.7% men and 62.3% women, with a mean age of 77.5 (±7.8) years. The percentage of frail elderly was 45.8%. Frail aged subjects achieved higher cortisol values on the third measurement (p=0.04) and frailty load was significantly associated to the first measurement (r=0.25, p=0.04). Simple linear regression analysis showed a rate of determination (R(2)=0.05) between frailty load and the first cortisol measurement. Greater cortisol values in the morning and before bed among frail aged individuals suggest a positive correlation may exist between cortisol levels and frailty in elderly residents of long-stay institutions.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina Marques de Almeida
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Holanda
authors.forename: Ricardo Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Patrícia Vidal de Negreiros
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.forename: Herman Ferreira
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marcia Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Piuvezam
authors.forename: Álvaro Campos Cavalcanti
authors.initials: ÁC
authors.lastname: Maciel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone