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SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb
Fazekas, C; Goswami, N; Matzer, F; Avian, A; Lodron, J; Rijksen, M; Hanfstingl, B; Kavcic, V; Groselj-Strele, A; Sourij, H; Kessler, HH; Stelzl, E; Voegel, CD; Binz, TM; Schmid-Zalaudek, K; Wittmann, A; Pilz, S.
Perceived Chronic Stress prior to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Predicts Ongoing Symptomatic COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Psychother Psychosom. 2025; 1-12
Doi: 10.1159/000547858
Web of Science
PubMed
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- Leading authors Med Uni Graz
- Fazekas Christian
- Co-authors Med Uni Graz
- Avian Alexander
- Goswami Nandu
- Groselj-Strele Andrea
- Kessler Harald
- Lodron Julia
- Matzer Franziska
- Pilz Stefan
- Rijksen Marc
- Schmid-Zalaudek Karin
- Sourij Harald
- Stelzl Evelyn
- Wittmann Alexander
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- Abstract:
- INTRODUCTION: Understanding chronic stress as a potential risk factor for COVID-19 progression could inform public health measures and personalized preventive interventions. Therefore, we investigated the influence of chronic stress prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection on symptom persistence 1 month after COVID-19 onset. METHODS: The participants of this prospective cohort study named "StressLoC" were adults with COVID-19 who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within the last 7 days. Pre-existing perceived chronic stress assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was the primary predictor. The number of stressful life events and hair cortisol concentration served as additional measures of pre-existing chronic stress. The main outcome was examined using the Long COVID Symptom and Impact Tool. It was defined as the presence of any new and impactful COVID-19-related symptom at month 1 after inclusion. Accordingly, participants were assigned to either the ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 group (OSC-G) or control group. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 288 participants (73.3% female), with a median age of 46 years (IQR 35-56). A total of 210 participants (72.9%) were categorized as OSC-G. Multivariate logistic regression showed that allocation to OSC-G was predicted by perceived chronic stress in the month prior to COVID-19 (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.14; p = 0.002) and the number of pre-existing symptoms (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.13; p = 0.001). The number of stressful life events and hair cortisol concentration did not predict OSC-G allocation. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that higher levels of pre-existing perceived chronic stress increase the odds of developing ongoing symptomatic COVID-19.
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- Psychological stress
- COVID-19
- Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19
- Psychosomatic medicine