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Peters, A. ; Rospleszcz, S. ; Greiser, K.H.* ; Dallavalle, M. ; Berger, K.*

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

Dtsch. Arztebl. Int. 117, 861-867 (2020)
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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.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Mental-health; Depression; Questionnaire; Validation; Disorder; Anxiety; Phq
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1866-0452
e-ISSN 1866-0452
Journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt international
Quellenangaben Volume: 117, Issue: 50, Pages: 861-867 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Dt. Ärzte-Verl.
Publishing Place Dieselstrabe 2, Postfach 400265, D-50859 Cologne, Germany
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI2)
Grants Leibniz Association
Helmholtz Association
Federal Ministry of Education and Research