TY - JOUR AB - Background: Stress and cortisol dysregulation are linked to NCDs. Moreover, stress favours unhealthy lifestyle patterns, which increase the risk for NCDs. The role of the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) and the effect of lifestyle interventions on the same remain unclear. Methods: The impact of the intensive 8-week phase of the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (HLCP, cohort 1) on parameters of the CAR, ie cortisol values 0 (sample [S]1), 30), 45 and 60 minutes post-awakening, average peak, S1-peak delta and area under the increase curve (AUCI), and perceived stress levels (PSL) was evaluated in a non-randomized, controlled trial. Covariates of the CAR (eg sleep measures) and irregularities in sampling were assessed. The intervention focussed on stress management, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and social support. Participants were recruited from the general population. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. Results: 97 participants (age: 56±10 years; 71% female), with 68 in the intervention group (IG; age: 55±8, 77% female) and 29 participants in the control group (CG; age: 59±12, 59% female), were included in the analysis. The baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable, except participants of IG were younger. On average, the PSL at baseline was low in both groups (IG: 9.7 ±5.4 points; CG: 8.5 ±6.9 points; p=.165), but 22% (n =15) in the IG and 20% (n =6) in the CG reported a high PSL. Most participants reported irregularities in CAR sampling, eg interruption of sleep (IG: 80% CG: 81%). After 8 weeks, most CAR parameters and the PSL decreased in the IG and CG, resulting in no differences of change between the groups. In the IG only, a decrease of PSL was linked to an increase of CAR parameters, eg AUCI (correlation coefficient =−0.307; p =.017). Conclusion: The HLCP may potentially reduce PSL and change the CAR, but results cannot be clearly attributed to the programme. Methodological challenges and multiple confounders, limit suitability of the CAR in the context of lifestyle interventions. Other measures (eg hair-cortisol) may give further insights. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS); DRKS00018821; www.drks.de AU - Anand, Corinna AU - Hengst, Karin AU - Gellner, Reinhold AU - Englert, Heike DA - 2022-09-28 DO - 10.17879/62059550958 KW - cortisol awakening response KW - perceived stress KW - healthy lifestyle KW - controlled intervention KW - real-world community approach (5-10) LA - eng N1 - Chronic Stress 6 (2022), 1–13 N1 - Finanziert durch den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU Münster). N1 - Förderer: Deutsche Diabetes Stiftung / Projektnummer: 400/04/17, 203018 N1 - Funding organisation: Deutsche Diabetes Stiftung / Project number: 400/04/17, 203018 PY - 2022-09-28 TI - Eight Weeks of Lifestyle Change: What are the Effects of the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (Cohort 1) on Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) and Perceived Stress? UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-62059545802 Y2 - 2024-11-22T06:27:31 ER -