In a cross-sectional study of women in a nursing team at a university hospital in southern Brazil, we studied DNA damage, salivary cortisol levels, and cognition. DNA damage was measured in blood leukocytes with the comet assay and the micronucleus test. Salivary cortisol levels were determined upon waking, 30 min later, and at bedtime. Cognition was evaluated according to the Stroop, Digit span and Word span tests. Cortisol levels on waking up were associated negatively with the number of years the employee worked at the institution and positively with the DNA damage in comet assay. Cognitive scores were lower when the cortisol levels were low at awakening and high at bedtime; and were associated positively with educational level. Cortisol status may influence overall health as well as essential work skills, such as attention.

在巴西南部一家大学医院的护理团队中对女性进行横断面研究，我们研究了 DNA 损伤、唾液皮质醇水平和认知。用彗星试验和微核试验测量血液白细胞中的 DNA 损伤。在醒来、30 分钟后和睡前测定唾液皮质醇水平。根据 Stroop、数字跨度和单词跨度测试评估认知。醒来时的皮质醇水平与员工在机构工作的年数呈负相关，与彗星试验中的 DNA 损伤呈正相关。清醒时皮质醇水平低而睡前皮质醇水平高时，认知评分较低；并且与教育水平呈正相关。皮质醇状态可能会影响整体健康以及基本的工作技能，例如注意力。