Influence of socioeconomic status on saliva samples compliance to the analysis of cortisol in elders

• Grant number: 13/08089-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Nery de Souza Talarico
• Grantee: Alina Yukie Handa
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem (EE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The stress has been extensively investigated nowadays, mainly because its association with chronic comorbidities. In humans, one of the hormones released during the stress response is the cortisol that could be analyzed in the saliva. Its collection is easy, low cost, non-invasive and can be collected by the patient themselves. However, the directions about sampling schedule should be rigorously followed to not compromise the sample compliance. Defectives in the samples compliance could lead to modifications in the cortisol concentrations. The factors that could influence the sample compliance are not clearly described in the scientific literature. The socioeconomic status may be one of them, since individuals from lower socioeconomic status have low education level and could present difficulties on following the sampling instructions. Thus, the goal of the present study is to verify whether there is an association between socioeconomic status and sampling schedule compliance as well as to analyze the influence of compliance lacking on cortisol concentration. One hundred twenty two elderly individuals without cognitive and functional deficits will have saliva samples collected to determine the cortisol concentration, during two consecutive day, at awaking, 30 minutes after awakening, at 2pm, at 4pm and at bedtime. The samples compliance will be analyzed using the sample collection time registered both in an electronic monitoring device (Medical Event Monitoring System - MEMS) and in a salivary sampling diary. The hypothesis is that the frequency of samples collected out of the time scheduled is higher in the lower socioeconomic status individuals compared to those from higher socioeconomic status. Moreover, it is postulated that there are differences on the cortisol concentration between individuals with saliva samples collected out of the time scheduled compared to those who collected samples in the scheduled time. (AU)