TY - JOUR
T1 - Salivary cortisol and sleep problems among civil servants
AU - Hansen, Åse Marie
AU - Thomsen, Jane Frølund
AU - Kaergaard, Anette
AU - Kolstad, Henrik Albert
AU - Kaerlev, Linda
AU - Mors, Ole
AU - Rugulies, Reiner
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter
AU - Andersen, Johan Hvid
AU - Mikkelsen, Sigurd
N1 - Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/7
Y1 - 2012/7
N2 - Objective: The present study used information from a field study conducted among 4489 civil servants (70% women) in Denmark in 2007. The purpose was to examine the association between sleep problems and salivary cortisol by using a cross-sectional design with repeated measures in a subsample three-month later. Methods: Sleep problems during the past night and the past 4 weeks were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire on overall sleep quality, disturbed sleep, sleep length and awakening problems. Saliva samples were collected in a single day, using cotton tubes, 30. min after awakening and again at 2000. h. A subsample of 387 participants collected saliva samples three-month later at awakening, +20. min and +40. min after awakening and at 2000. h. We adjusted for confounders related to sampling time, life style and personal characteristics, socioeconomic status and work aspects. Results: Sleep problems during the past four weeks were associated with low morning and evening saliva cortisol concentrations: [-3.1% per score of disturbed sleep (p=.009); and -4.7% per score of awakening problems (p<.001)]. Whereas sleep problems were not related with slope (the morning to evening change in cortisol levels). Awakening problems predicted lower cortisol (-7.51% per score; p=.003) three-month later. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) and slope three-month later were significantly associated with disturbed sleep (-7.84% and -8.24%) and awakening problems (-6.93). Area under the curve (AUC morning) increased with disturbed sleep (3.77%). Conclusion: Surprisingly, low morning cortisol was associated with increased sleep problems during a four-week period prior to sampling among 4066 Danish civil servants. At follow-up three-month later, those with sleep problems had a flattened cortisol profile. Those with awakening problems also had low salivary cortisol in general.
AB - Objective: The present study used information from a field study conducted among 4489 civil servants (70% women) in Denmark in 2007. The purpose was to examine the association between sleep problems and salivary cortisol by using a cross-sectional design with repeated measures in a subsample three-month later. Methods: Sleep problems during the past night and the past 4 weeks were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire on overall sleep quality, disturbed sleep, sleep length and awakening problems. Saliva samples were collected in a single day, using cotton tubes, 30. min after awakening and again at 2000. h. A subsample of 387 participants collected saliva samples three-month later at awakening, +20. min and +40. min after awakening and at 2000. h. We adjusted for confounders related to sampling time, life style and personal characteristics, socioeconomic status and work aspects. Results: Sleep problems during the past four weeks were associated with low morning and evening saliva cortisol concentrations: [-3.1% per score of disturbed sleep (p=.009); and -4.7% per score of awakening problems (p<.001)]. Whereas sleep problems were not related with slope (the morning to evening change in cortisol levels). Awakening problems predicted lower cortisol (-7.51% per score; p=.003) three-month later. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) and slope three-month later were significantly associated with disturbed sleep (-7.84% and -8.24%) and awakening problems (-6.93). Area under the curve (AUC morning) increased with disturbed sleep (3.77%). Conclusion: Surprisingly, low morning cortisol was associated with increased sleep problems during a four-week period prior to sampling among 4066 Danish civil servants. At follow-up three-month later, those with sleep problems had a flattened cortisol profile. Those with awakening problems also had low salivary cortisol in general.
U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.005
DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 22208999
SN - 0306-4530
VL - 37
SP - 1086
EP - 1095
JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology
JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology
IS - 7
ER -