Daily hassles and cortisol suppression following low-dose dexamethasone suppression test are independently associated with cardiovascular disease
Authors' conclusion
A higher cortisol suppression ratio, indicative of increased glucocorticoid sensitivity, and increased daily hassles were both independently associated with having CVD. The absence of interaction suggests they influence CVD through separate pathways, highlighting the need for further research to better understand stress mechanisms and identify "stress profiles" most closely linked to cardiometabolic diseases.
Study context
- Population
- Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) participants without psychiatric diagnosis in the prior 6 months; 64.7% female, median age 47.0 years
- Participants
- 870 participants
- Outcome
- Association of daily hassles (DHQ) and cortisol suppression ratio after 0.5 mg dexamethasone with CVD
Methodological detailscross-sectional analysis of NESDA participants
- Cross-sectional analysis of NESDA participants
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Per SD increase in Daily Hassles Questionnaire (DHQ) score, odds of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (multivariable-adjusted), times higher
1.38
95% CI 1.07; 1.77
Per SD increase in cortisol suppression ratio, odds of CVD, times higher
1.36
95% CI 1.08; 1.72
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Higher DHQ scores associated with higher evening cortisol levels
Original publication
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