The association between stress and multiple long-term conditions: A cohort study
Hilda Hounkpatin1, Glenn Simpson1, Miriam Santer1
1Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|December 15, 2023
Summary
High hair cortisol levels, a stress biomarker, are linked to an increased risk of developing and accumulating multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) in older adults. This finding highlights stress as a potential target for reducing MLTC risk.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Biomedical Science
Background:
- Stress is a known predictor of chronic health conditions.
- Hair cortisol serves as a reliable biomarker for long-term stress exposure.
- Multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) represent a significant health burden in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hair cortisol levels and the incidence and accumulation of MLTC.
- To determine if hair cortisol predicts the development of new long-term conditions.
- To explore the relationship between stress biomarkers and the progression of multiple chronic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 4295 older adults (aged ≥50 years) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
- Measured hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress.
- Employed Cox proportional hazards models to assess the link between baseline hair cortisol and MLTC accumulation over a six-year period.
Main Results:
- Higher hair cortisol levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of accumulating MLTC.
- This association remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and health behaviors.
- Individuals without MLTC at baseline showed a higher risk of developing new conditions with elevated hair cortisol.
Conclusions:
- This study provides novel evidence linking chronic stress, indicated by hair cortisol, to the development and accumulation of MLTC.
- Hair cortisol may serve as a modifiable risk factor that can be targeted to mitigate MLTC.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms connecting stress and MLTC accumulation.
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