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Review
. 2017 Jun;4(3):455-461.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-016-0246-8. Epub 2016 Jun 28.

Variation in the Calculation of Allostatic Load Score: 21 Examples from NHANES

Michelle T Duong  1 , Brianna A Bingham  1 , Paola C Aldana  1 , Stephanie T Chung  1 , Anne E Sumner  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Variation in the Calculation of Allostatic Load Score: 21 Examples from NHANES

Michelle T Duong et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

After decades of resistance, there is now a genuine consensus that disease cannot be prevented or even successfully treated unless the role of stress is addressed alongside traditionally recognized factors such as genes and the environment. Measurement of allostatic load, which is quantified by the allostatic load score (ALS), is one of the most frequently used methods to assess the physiologic response to stress. Even though there is universal agreement that in the calculation of ALS, biomarkers from three categories should be included (cardiovascular, metabolic and immune), enormous variation exists in how ALS is calculated. Specifically, there is no consensus on which biomarkers to include or the method which should be used to determine whether the value of a biomarker represents high risk. In this perspective, we outline the approach taken in 21 different NHANES studies.

Keywords: A1C; Allostatic load score; Biomarkers; Blood pressure; C-reactive protein; Stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement

Author Michelle T. Duong declares she has no conflict of interest.

Author Brianna A. Bingham declares she has no conflict of interest.

Author Paola C. Aldana declares she has no conflict of interest.

Author Stephanie T. Chung declares she has no conflict of interest.

Author Anne E. Sumner declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The Path from Psychosocial Stress to Disease
HPA is an abbreviation for the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. SAM is the abbreviation for the sympathetic-adrenal medullary system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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