Study confirms causal link between plasma cortisol and hypertension

Individuals with higher genetically predicted plasma cortisol appear to have greater odds of hypertension, according to a Mendelian randomization analysis.

For the two-sample, inverse-variance-weighted Mendelian randomization analysis, researchers used three cortisol-associated genetic variants in the SERPINA6/SERPINA1 region as genetic instruments. Summary-level statistics for cortisol and disease outcomes from publicly available genetic consortia were collected and used in a subsequent meta-analysis. The researchers also evaluated potential mediating effects.

Results showed that for every 1-standard deviation increase in genetically predicted plasma cortisol, there was a 12-percent increase in the odds of having hypertension (odds ratio, 1.12, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.18).

Moreover, each 1-standard deviation increase in genetically predicted plasma cortisol was associated with higher systolic blood pressure (mean difference [MD], 0.03 standard deviation change, 95 percent CI, 0.01–0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (MD, 0.03 standard deviation change, 95 percent CI, 0.01–0.04).

However, the association with hypertension was attenuated after adjustment for waist circumference, suggesting that the association was potentially mediated by central obesity.

Genetically predicted plasma cortisol had no association with type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, and schizophrenia.