The 12
children with low cortisol levels on both samples averaged 5.2 symptoms of conduct disorder; compared to 1.5 such symptoms in the 26 boys who had a higher level on either sample.
Poor physical health in the form of obesity, metabolic syndrome and dyslipidaemia, i.e. high levels of fat in the blood, was considerably more common in
patients with low cortisol levels in comparison to patients with normal or high cortisol levels.
Prevalence of low quality of life was six times more common in the
group with low cortisol levels and nearly five times more common among those with high cortisol levels, compared with those who exhibited normal activity in the stress system.
A study on the effects of human - animal interaction on the level of salivary cortisol in shelter dogs found that contact with humans was associated
with lower cortisol levels.