Serum Cortisol and Cardiovascular Disease Risk - A Potential Biomarker

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Wei Jet Oo1, Chooi Ling Lim1, Mun Hon Goh2

  • 1Division of Applied Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, IMU University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Current Cardiology Reviews
|January 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Serum cortisol, influenced by stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, is linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This review explores cortisol

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of mortality.
  • Cortisol, the 'stress hormone,' is implicated in CVD risk, particularly in relation to stress and Cushing's Syndrome.
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates cortisol, playing a role in CVD pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of serum cortisol in cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression and risk.
  • To emphasize the mechanistic features and parameters linking cortisol to CVD.
  • To discuss factors hindering the clinical use of cortisol as a CVD risk biomarker.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature and evidence.
  • Analysis of the association between cortisol levels and CVD risk.
  • Examination of the influence of metabolic syndrome and non-metabolic features.
  • Consideration of hypercortisolism treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Metabolic syndrome significantly contributes to cortisol-mediated CVD risk.
  • Non-metabolic features also play a role in the cortisol-CVD association.
  • Treatments for hypercortisolism can reduce CVD risk.
  • Clinical utility of cortisol as a CVD biomarker is limited by several factors.

Conclusions:

  • Serum cortisol is a significant factor in cardiovascular disease progression and risk.
  • Understanding the mechanistic links between cortisol, HPA axis, and CVD is crucial.
  • Further research is needed to overcome barriers to using cortisol as a clinical CVD risk biomarker.

Keywords:
Serum cortisolbiomarkercardiovascularhormonemechanistic parameters.stress

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