Title:Low Levels of Cortisol are Associated with HIV Infection in Older People: A Hormonal Substudy in the OVER50 Cohort
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
Author(s): Diana Hernandez-Sanchez*, Silvia Martinez-Couselo, Manel Puig-Domingo, Ana Martinez, Sandra Gonzalez, Patricia Echeverria, Anna Bonjoch, Jordi Puig and Eugenia Negredo
Affiliation:
- Fundació Lluita contra les Infeccions, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
Keywords:
HIV, cortisol, HIV-related hormonal imbalance, older people, human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), adrenal complications.
Abstract:
Introduction: People with the human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) who were diagnosed
long ago are more prone to age-related conditions and comorbidities than the general population.
We hypothesized that older PWH have endocrine abnormalities that may influence the patient’s
health status.
Methods: Mean hormonal values across the thyrotropic, somatotropic, corticotropic, and gonadal
axis, and percentage of subjects with abnormal values, were compared between PWH aged ≥50
years (n=30) and people without HIV (n=30) (Over50 cohort). Clinical factors were also analyzed
as independent variables.
Results: PWH had a higher prevalence of comorbidities (36.67% PWH and 20.69% controls had
≥3 comorbidities). Male PWH exhibited lower estradiol levels than male controls (29.75±7.68
pg/mL vs. 35.45 ± 10.04 pg/mL; p = 0.0041). Abnormal concentrations of testosterone were
found in 35% of male PWH compared to 55% of male controls (mostly above reference values).
Cortisol levels were significantly lower among PWH (9.97 ± 4.33 μg/dL vs. 13.56 ± 3.39 μg/dL;
p = 0.002); 16.6% of PWH exhibited abnormally low levels (<5 μg/dL), compared to 0% of controls,
and 3 PWH met criteria for a definitive diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (<3.6 μg/dL). For
the somatotropic axis, growth hormone (GH) levels were significantly lower in male PWH than in
controls (p = 0.0394). No significant differences were found in relation to the thyroid axis.
Conclusion: Hormones are generally similar between the chronic PWH who are receiving ART
treatment and the general control population, except for cortisol in both sexes and testosterone
and estradiol in men. Some special attention should be given to cortisol in PWH due to a presumably
higher risk of adrenal complications.
