20.500.12556/RUL-176272 Pre-pandemic lifestyle patterns and mental health outcomes among people reporting post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 evidence from a Slovenian population-based sample Background: The long-term consequences of COVID-19, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), represent a major public health concern. Beyond persistent physical symptoms, PASC profoundly affects mental health and daily functioning. Despite growing international evidence, little is known about how pre-pandemic lifestyle patterns shape vulnerability to PASC and how its psychological burden extends beyond distress to deficits in well-being. While national settings may shape prevalence estimates and symptom reporting, this study focuses on group differences within a single country—Slovenia, characterized by universal healthcare, high physical activity, strict containment measures, and low institutional trust. Methods: Data were drawn from a representative sample of working-age Slovenian adults (N = 3,048), surveyed in early 2023. Participants reported infection history, symptom persistence, pre-pandemic lifestyle patterns, and mental health outcomes. PASC was defined following WHO criteria, with an added requirement of functional impairment. Analyses employed chi-squared tests for categorical variables and ANOVAs for differences across ill-being and well-being indicators. Results: Nearly one-third of infected individuals (29.5%) met PASC criteria. Fatigue, decreased physical performance, and cognitive difficulties were the most prevalent and persistent symptoms, often lasting close to a year. PASC was more common among women, younger adults, those facing financial hardship, and individuals with higher education. Lifestyle patterns showed mixed associations: BMI was unrelated, smoking displayed a paradoxically lower risk, while physical activity reduced infection risk but was modestly linked to greater PASC likelihood post-infection. Crucially, PASC was associated with significantly elevated stress, anxiety, and depression, alongside reduced well-being across all domains. Conclusions: These findings highlight the enduring burden of PASC and its dual impact on distress and well-being, underscoring the need for integrated, system-level planning that links primary care, rehabilitation, and mental health services to mitigate long-term consequences and support recovery. post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) lifestyle patterns mental health outcomes Slovenian national study COVID-19 post-COVID-19 conditions sequelae COVID-19 dolgotrajni covid posledice življenjski slog izidi na področju duševnega zdravja slovenska nacionalna raziskava true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2025-11-26 10:51:29 2025-11-26 10:51:40 2025-12-19 04:07:37 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 17 str. art. 4083 Vol. 25 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 159.9:616-036.22 1471-2458 10.1186/s12889-025-25466-2 258750211 Zager_Kocjan_Pre-pandemic_lifestyle_patterns_and_mental_health_outcomes_among_people_reporting_post-acute_sequelae_of_COVID-19_evidence_from_a_Slovenian_population-based_sample.pdf Zager_Kocjan_Pre-pandemic_lifestyle_patterns_and_mental_health_outcomes_among_people_reporting_post-acute_sequelae_of_COVID-19_evidence_from_a_Slovenian_population-based_sample.pdf 1 4A1F29EAC8FCE7A3286F065E35725D16 193701f80dbaea5feb9fea59de1a76ec5f4820c281211987490a9287c84a76c1 856d49b6-caad-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=222553 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-025-25466-2 1 2653efd2-caad-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=222552 Filozofska fakulteta 0 0 0