Analysis of hair steroid hormone concentrations for the assessment of chronic stress and its association with cardiovascular disease risk

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major cause of death worldwide. Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in Lithunia, accounting for more than one third of deaths and exceeding the European Union average four-fold. Conventional CVD risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia, does not expain such high rates of morbidity and mortality from CVD. Currently, psychosocial stress is considered as an independent CVD risk factor. In the present study chronic stress level was evaluated by using specialized questionnaires, calculating allostatic load index and measuring hair steroid hormone (cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosteone (DHEA)) levels. The study was conducted in a group of 25–55 y.o. men and 50–64 y.o. women. High-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of cortisol, cortisone and DHEA was implemented in the current study. Also, we evaluated the associations between hair steroid hormone levels and anthropometric measures, glucose and lipid metabolism biomarkers, SCORE2 index, as well as the risk metabolic syndrome. The obtained results are important for the practical aspects: understanding the association between chronic stress and CVD risk would be useful in the estimation of personal CVD risk and timely implementation of more effective prevention programs.