Salivary Cortisol in Intensive Care Unit

Association of Salivary Cortisol Levels and Outcome of Critically Ill Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

In critical illness, patients are highly stressed and should have elevated cortisol (stress hormone) secretion to adapt to stress. Dysfunction of this system is referred to as critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency. Free cortisol (unbound form) which is mainly responsible for its physiologic function is difficult to measure. We hypothesized that the salivary cortisol, which can be obtained by noninvasive methods, can more accurately evaluate adrenal function of critically ill patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients who agreed to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known adrenal or pituitary disease
• oral bleeding
• currently on systemic or inhaled corticosteroids