The effect of age on cortisol and plasma dexamethasone concentrations in depressed patients and controls

The aim of this study was to identify any relationships between various patient factors such as age, gender and concurrent medication that may affect plasma cortisol or dexamethasone (DEX) concentrations. Multiple regression analysis was used to formulate an equation to predict plasma DEX levels to identify factors that may influence DEX bioavailability. Pre- and post-DST cortisol levels did not increase with age, but DEX levels were higher in elderly depressed patients. Neither gender nor psychotropic medication affected plasma cortisol or DEX levels. There was no indication that pre-DST cortisol levels influenced plasma DEX levels to account for the lower DEX values in non-suppressors. Age was the only significant factor found in this study to influence DEX levels and it could be argued that the dose of DEX should be lowered when administering the DST to elderly patients to reduce plasma DEX variability.