Perceived stress associated with worsened symptoms in COPD patients

Perceived stress associated with worsened symptoms in COPD patients

Increased perceived stress may lead to worsened respiratory symptoms and reduced quality of life in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study finds. The study will be published in the March 2025 issue ofChronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Journal of the COPD Foundationa peer-reviewed open access journal.

Perceived stress is used to describe how overwhelmed or stressed a person is based on their personal understanding of the situation. It is a psychosocial factor, along with loneliness, social isolation and emotional support, that has been shown to influence health outcomes in people with chronic illnesses.

COPD is an inflammatory lung disease that includes several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants such as smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.

This new study evaluated data from the Comparative Urban and Rural Effects of Poverty on COPD (CURE COPD) study, which examined how obesity, poor diet, and indoor air quality affect former smokers with COPD living in low-income, urban areas. The authors examined the relationship between perceived stress on respiratory health and platelet activation, oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory biological processes that may contribute to COPD.

There is increasing evidence that psychosocial factors, including perceived stress, are associated with worsened respiratory symptoms for people with COPD. Platelet activation, which can contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lead to cell and tissue damage, is also influenced by increased perceived stress. While our study examined a small group of patients, our results demonstrate the need for further research into how perceived stress affects respiratory health and the importance of addressing psychosocial factors to improve people's quality of life. “

Obiageli Lynda Offor, MD, MPH, a pulmonary and critical care fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore and lead author of the study

Access current and past issues fromChronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Journal of the COPD Foundationvisit journal.copdfoundation.org.

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