The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Reported Health.
Dtsch Arztebl Int
; 117(50): 861-867, 2020 12 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-968708
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.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Health Status
/
Mental Health
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Dtsch Arztebl Int
Journal subject:
Medicine
/
Public Health
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Arztebl.2020.0861
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