The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-reported health

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Item Type:	Editorial
Title:	The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-reported health
Creators Name:	Peters, A., Rospleszcz, S., Greiser, K.H., Dallavalle, M., Karch, A., Mikolajczyk, R., Krause, G., Castell, S., Nieters, A., Kraft, D., Wolff, R., Stübs, G., Lang, O., Panreck, L., Rietschel, M., Rujescu, D., Dragano, N., Schmidt, B., Becher, H., Brenner, H., Damms-Machado, A., Fischer, B., Franzke, C.W., Gastell, S., Günther, K., Hermes, A., Holleczek, B., Jaeschke, L., Jöckel, K.H., Kaaks, R., Keil, T., Kemmling, Y., Kluttig, A., Kuß, O., Legath, N., Leitzmann, M., Lieb, W., Loeffler, M., Meinke-Franze, C., Michels, K.B., Obi, N., Pischon, T., Schikowski, T., Schulze, M.B., Stang, A., Thierry, S., Völzke, H., Willlich, S.N., Wirkner, K., Wolf, K., Zeeb, H. and Berger, K.
Abstract:	BACKGROUND: The pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the countermeasures taken to protect the public are having a substantial effect on the health of the population. In Germany, nationwide protective measures to halt the spread of the virus were implemented in mid-March for 6 weeks. METHODS: In May, the impact of the pandemic was assessed in the German National Cohort (NAKO). A total of 113 928 men and women aged 20 to 74 years at the time of the baseline examination conducted 1 to 5 years earlier (53%) answered, within a 30-day period, a follow-up questionnaire on SARS-CoV-2 test status, COVID-19-associated symptoms, and self-perceived health status. RESULTS: The self-reported SARS-CoV-2 test frequency among the probands was 4.6%, and 344 participants (0.3%) reported a positive test result. Depressive and anxiety-related symptoms increased relative to baseline only in participants under 60 years of age, particularly in young women. The rate of moderate to severe depressive symptoms increased from 6.4% to 8.8%. Perceived stress increased in all age groups and both sexes, especially in the young. The scores for mental state and self-rated health worsened in participants tested for SARS-CoV-2 compared with those who were not tested. In 32% of the participants, however, self-rated health improved. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic and the protective measures during the first wave had effects on mental health and on self-rated general health.
Keywords:	Anxiety, COVID-19, Depression, Germany, Health Status, Mental Health, Pandemics, Psychological Stress, Self Report
Source:	Deutsches Aerzteblatt International
ISSN:	1866-0452
Publisher:	Deutscher Ärzte-Verlag
Volume:	117
Page Range:	861-867
Date:	11 December 2020
Additional Information:	Copyright © Deutscher Ärzteverlag GmbH
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2020.0861
External Fulltext:	View full text on PubMed Central
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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