Cortisol Dynamic Range as a Biomarker of Individual, Interpersonal, and Structural Chronic Stress in African Americans: The FAITH! Heart Health+ Ancillary Study
Time: 01:10 PM - 01:20 PMTopics: Stress, Social and Environmental Context and Health
Background: Chronic stress in Black individuals is multi-layered amid the context of experiences of racism and discrimination. Cortisol dynamic range (CDR) may be an indicator of chronic stress, but less is known about the association between stress and CDR in Black individuals, which is hypothesized to differ by sex.
Objective: Data from the community-engaged FAITH! Heart Health+ ancillary study was used to explore the feasibility of CDR collection and its association with measures for individual, interpersonal, structural stress and exposure to racism in Black women and men.
Methods: Participants residing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul and Rochester, Minnesota areas provided survey data (everyday discrimination, perceived stress, mood, sleep quality, and high effort coping measures), and saliva samples (morning and afternoon) for cortisol measurement. CDR was calculated as a difference in log cortisol levels (i.e., log of the cortisol diurnal peak-to-nadir ratio). Geospatial area deprivation index and distance lived from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis were calculated. Linear regression examined the association between CDR and outcome variables.
Results: Seventy percent of consented participants (37/53, mean age 57.5 years, 65% women) provided cortisol samples. Lower (less dynamic) CDR in women (n=20) was associated with greater perceived stress (β=-0.07, p=0.01), greater anxiety (β=-0.06, p=0.01), higher Superwoman Schema score (β=-0.02, p=0.04), and greater distance from George Floyd Square (β=-0.02, p=0.01). No associations were observed in men (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The current results suggest that CDR from participant-led saliva collection is feasible and may serve as a biomarker of chronic and physiological stress in Black women.
Keywords: Stress, RaceObjective: Data from the community-engaged FAITH! Heart Health+ ancillary study was used to explore the feasibility of CDR collection and its association with measures for individual, interpersonal, structural stress and exposure to racism in Black women and men.
Methods: Participants residing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul and Rochester, Minnesota areas provided survey data (everyday discrimination, perceived stress, mood, sleep quality, and high effort coping measures), and saliva samples (morning and afternoon) for cortisol measurement. CDR was calculated as a difference in log cortisol levels (i.e., log of the cortisol diurnal peak-to-nadir ratio). Geospatial area deprivation index and distance lived from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis were calculated. Linear regression examined the association between CDR and outcome variables.
Results: Seventy percent of consented participants (37/53, mean age 57.5 years, 65% women) provided cortisol samples. Lower (less dynamic) CDR in women (n=20) was associated with greater perceived stress (β=-0.07, p=0.01), greater anxiety (β=-0.06, p=0.01), higher Superwoman Schema score (β=-0.02, p=0.04), and greater distance from George Floyd Square (β=-0.02, p=0.01). No associations were observed in men (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The current results suggest that CDR from participant-led saliva collection is feasible and may serve as a biomarker of chronic and physiological stress in Black women.
Authors and Affliiates
Presenter: Robin Ortiz, MD, MS, Departments of Pediatrics and Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NYCo-Author: Joshua Joseph, MD, MPH, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
Co-Author: Matthew P. Johnson, MS, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Co-Author: Lainey Moen, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
Co-Author: Mathias Lalika, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic
Co-Author: Clarence Jones, Med, Hue-Man Partnership, Minneapolis, MN
Co-Author: Irina Bancos, MD, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
Co-Author: Lisa A. Cooper, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Co-Author: Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
Co-Author: Christi A. Patten, PhD, Mayo Clinic
Co-Author: LaPrincess C. Brewer, MD, MPH, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
Cortisol Dynamic Range as a Biomarker of Individual, Interpersonal, and Structural Chronic Stress in African Americans: The FAITH! Heart Health+ Ancillary Study
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Scientific > Poster/Paper/Live Research Spotlight