Abstract. Introduction. Stress may have an impact on the neuro-endocrine system by changing glycemic levels, which can affect behavior. Objective. The main objective is to evaluate by systematic literature search perceived stress and its effect on patients with non-communicable diseases. Methods. A thorough literature analysis was carried out using internet databases (EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, OVID, CDSR, CENTRAL, Scopus). The retrieved data were processed by descriptive statistics to give a general overview of the study categories, methods, participants, the effect of stress on non-communicable disease (NCDs) patients, and outcomes. Results. The outcomes have been organised by disease type for convenience of perusal. The six categories of diseases are comprised of the top four NCDs in terms of burden: cancer, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and stroke. Conclusions. It is shown that stress is linked to negative effects on the patient’s health. Potential approaches to address this link are regular assessment of stress levels, combining counselling and psychological treatment for individuals with NCDs, and promoting physical activity.

 
Key words: stress, non-communicable disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, chronic respiratory disease, cortisol

Full text here.