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Population aging is a fast-growing global phenomenon in developing countries. Several disorders can affect the elderly, including diabetes and depression, which increase the probability of developing functional disability, triggering an important public health problem. Present study aimed to analyze the relationship among capillary cortisol concentrations and diabetes and symptoms of depression, in a sample composed of 151 elderly between 60 and 81 years old, resident in the municipality of Ivoti/RS. Most of the participants were women (72.2%), underlining the feminization characteristic of the senescence. About 50% of the participants studied from 5 to 10 years, while 38.4% from 1 to 4 years, and 2% were illiterate, indicating overall a low education level of the group. With respect to labor, 88.7% of the participants were retired, and family income ranged from 1 to 3 minimal wages monthly in most of the cases (71.6%). Forty-seven elderly (31.1%) met the criteria for DM2 classification. Hair cortisol concentrations ranged from 0.74 to 50.09 pg/mg. Our data indicate a significant positive association of hair cortisol concentrations with DM2 in older adults, but it was not significant associated with depression assessed as GDS score or sex in our population.
