Cortisol, DHEA sulphate, their ratio, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in the Vietnam Experience Study
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives
The aim of the present analyses was to examine the association between cortisol, DHEA sulphate (DHEAS) and the cortisol:DHEAS ratio and mortality.
Design
This was a prospective cohort analysis.
Methods
Participants were 4255 Vietnam-era US army veterans. From military service files, telephone interviews and a medical examination, occupational, socio-demographic and health data were collected. Contemporary morning fasted cortisol and DHEAS concentrations were determined. Mortality was tracked over the subsequent 15 years. The outcomes were all-cause, cardiovascular disease, cancer, other medical mortality and external causes of death. Cox proportional hazard models were tested, initially with adjustment for age, and then with adjustment for a range of candidate confounders.
Results
In general, cortisol concentrations did not show an association with all-cause or cause-specific mortality. However, in age-adjusted and fully adjusted analyses, DHEAS was negatively related to all-cause, all cancers and other medical mortality; high DHEAS concentrations were protective. The cortisol:DHEAS ratio was also associated with these outcomes in both age-adjusted and fully adjusted models; the higher the ratio, the greater the risk of death.
Conclusions
DHEAS was negatively associated, and the ratio of cortisol to DHEAS was positively associated with all-cause, cancer and other medical cause mortality. Further experimental study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these relationships.
The aim of the present analyses was to examine the association between cortisol, DHEA sulphate (DHEAS) and the cortisol:DHEAS ratio and mortality.
Design
This was a prospective cohort analysis.
Methods
Participants were 4255 Vietnam-era US army veterans. From military service files, telephone interviews and a medical examination, occupational, socio-demographic and health data were collected. Contemporary morning fasted cortisol and DHEAS concentrations were determined. Mortality was tracked over the subsequent 15 years. The outcomes were all-cause, cardiovascular disease, cancer, other medical mortality and external causes of death. Cox proportional hazard models were tested, initially with adjustment for age, and then with adjustment for a range of candidate confounders.
Results
In general, cortisol concentrations did not show an association with all-cause or cause-specific mortality. However, in age-adjusted and fully adjusted analyses, DHEAS was negatively related to all-cause, all cancers and other medical mortality; high DHEAS concentrations were protective. The cortisol:DHEAS ratio was also associated with these outcomes in both age-adjusted and fully adjusted models; the higher the ratio, the greater the risk of death.
Conclusions
DHEAS was negatively associated, and the ratio of cortisol to DHEAS was positively associated with all-cause, cancer and other medical cause mortality. Further experimental study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these relationships.
Date Issued
2010-08-01
Date Acceptance
2010-05-24
Citation
European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE), 2010, 163 (2), pp.285-292
ISSN
0804-4643
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Start Page
285
End Page
292
Journal / Book Title
European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE)
Volume
163
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2010 European Society of Endocrinology
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20498139
PII: EJE-10-0299
Subjects
AGE
CRITICAL ILLNESS
DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE
DISEASE MORTALITY
ELDERLY-MEN
Endocrinology & Metabolism
IMMUNE-RESPONSE
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
ORAL DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE
RISK
Science & Technology
SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE
STRESS
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2010-08-01