PMID- 27966001 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20170227 LR - 20221207 IS - 1680-0745 (Electronic) IS - 1995-1892 (Print) IS - 1015-9657 (Linking) VI - 27 IP - 6 DP - 2016 Nov/Dec TI - Cortisol:brain-derived neurotrophic factor ratio associated with silent ischaemia in a black male cohort: the SA BPA study. PG - 387-391 LID - 10.5830/CVJA-2016-065 [doi] AB - AIM: Emotional distress has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Africans. Cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as markers of emotional distress, increase cardiometabolic risk. We therefore aimed to investigate associations between cardiometabolic risk markers and the cortisol-to-BDNF ratio (cortisol:BDNF). METHODS: A cross-sectional study included a bi-ethnic gender cohort (n = 406) aged 44.7 +/- 9.52 years. Ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM), ECG, fasting serum cortisol and BDNF levels and cardiometabolic risk markers were obtained. RESULTS: Africans had increased incidence of hyperglycaemia and 24-hour silent ischaemic events, and elevated 24-hour blood pressure (BP) and cortisol:BDNF ratios compared to Caucasians. Forward stepwise linear regression analysis underscored a similar trend with associations between hyperglycaemia, 24-hour BP [Adj R(2) 0.21-0.29; beta 0.23 (0.1-0.4); p = 0.01], silent ischaemia [Adj R(2) 0.22; beta 0.40 (0.2-0.6); p < 0.01] and cortisol:BDNF levels in Africans, mostly in the men. CONCLUSION: Attenuated cortisol levels in this group may be indicative of emotional distress and if chronic, drive the cortisol:BDNF ratio to desensitise BDNF. Desensitised cortisol:BDNF may sustain cardiometabolic risk and induce neurodegeneration in African men via silent ischaemia. Compensatory increases in blood pressure to increase perfusion and maintain homeostasis may increase coronary artery disease risk. FAU - Schutte, Christiaan E AU - Schutte CE AD - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. FAU - Malan, Leone AU - Malan L AD - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. Email: Leone.Malan@nwu.ac.za. FAU - Scheepers, Jacobus D AU - Scheepers JD AD - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. FAU - Oosthuizen, Woudri AU - Oosthuizen W AD - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. FAU - Cockeran, Marike AU - Cockeran M AD - Statistical Consultation Services, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. FAU - Malan, Nicolaas T AU - Malan NT AD - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. LA - eng PT - Comparative Study PT - Journal Article PL - South Africa TA - Cardiovasc J Afr JT - Cardiovascular journal of Africa JID - 101313864 RN - 0 (Biomarkers) RN - 0 (Blood Glucose) RN - 0 (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) RN - 7171WSG8A2 (BDNF protein, human) RN - WI4X0X7BPJ (Hydrocortisone) SB - IM MH - Adult MH - Asymptomatic Diseases MH - Biomarkers/blood MH - *Black People MH - Blood Glucose/analysis MH - Blood Pressure MH - Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory MH - Brain Ischemia/*blood/diagnosis/ethnology/physiopathology MH - Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/*blood MH - Chi-Square Distribution MH - Cross-Sectional Studies MH - Electrocardiography MH - Female MH - Heart Rate MH - Humans MH - Hydrocortisone/*blood MH - Hyperglycemia/blood/ethnology MH - Hypertension/ethnology/physiopathology MH - Incidence MH - Linear Models MH - Male MH - Metabolic Syndrome/*blood/diagnosis/ethnology/physiopathology MH - Middle Aged MH - Risk Factors MH - Sex Factors MH - South Africa MH - Stress, Psychological/*blood/diagnosis/ethnology/physiopathology MH - White People PMC - PMC5408496 EDAT- 2016/12/15 06:00 MHDA- 2017/02/28 06:00 PMCR- 2016/11/01 CRDT- 2016/12/15 06:00 PHST- 2015/03/20 00:00 [received] PHST- 2016/05/29 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2016/12/15 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2016/12/15 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2017/02/28 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2016/11/01 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.5830/CVJA-2016-065 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Cardiovasc J Afr. 2016 Nov/Dec;27(6):387-391. doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2016-065.