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Reliability of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis assessment methods for use in population-based studies
Reliability of methods measuring stress hormone system activity in large population studies
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Abstract
The diurnal salivary cortisol curve and 11 p.m. salivary cortisol exhibited high reliability with between-visit correlations of r = 0.63-0.84 and 0.78, respectively.
- Chronic cortisol exposure may be better assessed using multiple salivary samples taken throughout the day.
- The cortisol awakening response and dexamethasone-suppressed cortisol showed moderate reliability with between-visit correlations of r = 0.33-0.67 and 0.42-0.66, respectively.
- Inter-reader reliability for adrenal gland volume measured by non-contrast CT ranged from r = 0.67-0.71 for the left adrenal gland and 0.47-0.70 for the right gland.
- A single 8 a.m. salivary cortisol sample, while easily obtainable, had the lowest reliability with correlations of R = 0.18-0.47.
- Multiple measures of salivary cortisol and adrenal gland volume are feasible and may effectively reflect HPA axis activity in population-based studies.
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