Higher Stress Tied to Worse Respiratory Outcomes With COPD
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 -- Among former smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), higher perceived stress is associated with worse respiratory outcomes, according to a study published in the March issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.
Obiageli Offor, M.D., from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and colleagues evaluated the association of perceived stress with respiratory outcomes and distinct biological mechanisms among former smokers with COPD. The analysis included 99 participants of the Comparing Urban and Rural Effects of Poverty on COPD study.
The researchers found that the median Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score was 13 across all visits through six months. There was an association between low perceived stress (PSS: 0 to 13), moderate (PSS: 14 to 26), and high perceived stress (PSS: 27 to 40) with worse respiratory health status and respiratory-related quality of life. For high perceived stress, the association exceeded clinically important differences, with only high PSS associated with increased moderate/severe exacerbations (odds ratio, 4.15). High stress was associated with lower urine thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (β = −25.5 percent) and higher 8-isoprostane (β = 40.1 percent) compared with low stress. Among individuals with mild-to-moderate COPD, moderate (β = 20.1 percent) and high (β = 52.9 percent) stress were associated with higher urine 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 compared with low stress.
"Platelet activation, which may contribute to inflammation, and oxidative stress, which may lead to cell and tissue damage, are also impacted by increased perceived stress," Offor said in a statement.
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
Wildfire-Induced Changes in Behavior Affect Spread of Airborne Disease
WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2025 -- Wildfire-induced deterioration of air quality leads to a substantial increase in indoor activities, fostering conditions conducive to transmission of...
Paternal Mental Distress Linked to Poorer Offspring Development
WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2025 -- Paternal mental distress is associated with poorer child development, according to a study published online June 16 in JAMA Pediatrics. Genevieve Le...
Self-Esteem Scores Soar One Year After Metabolic, Bariatric Surgery
TUESDAY, June 24, 2025 -- Self-esteem scores increase after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), with greater improvement in scores for those with higher postoperative weight...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.