A promising finding
Among 4,047 civil servants followed about six years, those whose cortisol fell least across the day died of heart disease 87% more often. Morning cortisol on its own showed no link at all.
CortisolA cortisol test comes back as a number. In 4,047 civil servants followed about six years, the morning number predicted nothing: what tracked with heart deaths, 87% more of them, was how flatly cortisol fell across the day. It turned up again in 250 patients before heart bypass. Both studies only watched, just 32 of those deaths were from heart disease, and a curve that barely falls may mark someone already ill. It is a signal in the shape of a day, not a level to correct.
Among 4,047 UK civil servants followed about six years, those whose fall was flattest died of heart disease 87% more often, and of any cause 30% more often.
This only tracks a pattern over time, so it cannot show cause. Just 32 of the deaths were from heart disease, which makes the estimate rough. Cortisol was measured on one ordinary weekday. Morning cortisol on its own showed no link at all.
Among 250 patients measured a month before heart bypass, those whose cortisol fell least across the day had more major cardiac events or deaths over the next 2.7 years.
One hospital, 250 people. Facing major surgery can itself distort cortisol patterns, so this may not reflect ordinary life. A flatter drop may also mark someone who is already sicker, rather than adding risk of its own.
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