An integrative review of the methods used for cortisol assessment in clinical studies investigating the association between Blood Pressure and Cortisol Hormone

• Main Authors: Ernandes Gonçalves Dias, Vanessa Augusto Bardaquim, Silvana Martins Mishima, Eugênia Velludo Veiga, Maria Cecília Gallani, Maria Lucia do Carmo Cruz Robazzi
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul 2019-01-01
• Series: Revista de Epidemiologia e Controle de Infecção
• Online Access: https://online.unisc.br/seer/index.php/epidemiologia/article/view/12275

Background and Objectives: Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is a health condition that represents a global public health problem and its relation with the hormone cortisol is not yet widely understood. Thus, the present study aimed to identify in the literature the association among the SAH, the hormone cortisol and the clinical methods used to evaluate this relationship. Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out, based on 17 scientific articles published between 2013 and 2017 identified in the databases EMBASE and PubMed, with the descriptors hypertension and hydrocortisone in English language. Results: There was an association of SAH with increased cortisol at the age of 62 years, increased sodium in the diet, not eating breakfast, increased caffeine consumption, metabolic syndrome, obesity, excess catecholamine’s, some types of hormones, and biomarkers. The most commonly used clinical methods for this relationship were association tests, performed with renal and / or cardiac function, metabolic syndrome, stress, chronic diseases associated with the evaluation of laboratory tests. Conclusion: The results indicated an association between cortisol and SAH with advancing age and lifestyle. Moreover, the association tests were the most used methods. KEYWORDS: Hypertension. Cortisol. Hydrocortisone. Clinical analysis. Health care.