A study evaluating the effectiveness of this modern tool showed that an increase in adrenal gland size is associated with higher levels of stress, increased stress load, as well as an increased risk of heart failure and death.
Considering that millions of CT scans are performed annually, this tool can be used for early detection of health risks associated with stress without the need for additional examinations or new radiological images.
A team of researchers developed and trained a deep learning model to estimate the volume of the adrenal glands. The team used this model “to measure the volume of the adrenal glands in CT scans of 2,842 participants in a previous medical study.”
The new study combined chest CT scans and reliable questionnaires to measure stress indicators, measurements of cortisol levels, and indicators of stress load, in order to assess the level of chronic stress and its relationship to adrenal gland size.
During the study, the researchers analyzed CT images using the new AI model to determine the adrenal volume index (AVI), which is based on the size of the gland relative to body height. They then compared this index with:
* Participants’ cortisol levels over two days.
* Stress load index, which was evaluated based on multiple factors such as: body mass index, blood sugar level, white blood cell count, heart rate, and blood pressure.
* Results of questionnaires to assess indicators of depression and stress.
* Indicators of heart “health.”
The analysis revealed that the AVI is significantly associated with high cortisol levels and increased stress load. It was also found to be higher in individuals with high stress levels compared to those with low stress levels.
It was also associated with an increase in the left ventricular mass index. Each increase of “1 cm³/m²” in AVI was associated with an increased risk of heart failure and death.
This study is considered a qualitative development, as “this is the first time that a biomarker based on medical imaging has been proven to independently predict an important clinical outcome related to chronic stress.”
The study results will be officially presented at the upcoming annual scientific meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
The researchers explained that “the adrenal gland represents a major part of the stress response system, and that their ability to accurately measure its size through medical images, which are frequently taken in hospitals, opens the door to using this indicator to assess risk in millions of patients without additional costs.”
They confirmed that this approach provides for the first time “a practical and objective tool to measure the cumulative impact of chronic stress, instead of relying solely on questionnaires or complex laboratory measurements.”
