The association between post COVID-19 condition and sleep-related parameters - a cross sectional study

Abstract

Poor sleep has been described as a consequence of post COVID-19 condition, but data are limited among non-hospitalized populations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between post-COVID-19 condition and sleep quality in non-hospitalized adults. Individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2020 at a tertiary hospital in Porto were invited to participate. We included non-hospitalized adults, diagnosed 3 or more months before the evaluation, without missing data on the variables of interest (n=2448). Data were collected in a questionnaire that included socio-demographic, clinical, and infection-related questions. Sleep-related parameters were referred to one month before the diagnosis and one week before the questionnaire. We computed crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) using multinomial logistic regression. Those with post COVID-19 condition had higher odds of perceiving their sleep quality as reasonably good (aOR: 1.43, 95%CI: 1.03-1.98), reasonably bad (aOR: 2.82, 95%CI: 1.97-4.05), or very bad (aOR: 3.73, 95%CI: 2.28-6.11). These associations were also found for a higher frequency of having difficulty in sleeping due to most of the reasons stated. Those with post COVID-19 condition had a 2.6 (95%CI: 2.02-3.34) higher odds of perceiving their sleep quality as worsened after diagnosis and of reporting to start having difficulty in sleeping. We found a positive association between post COVID-19 condition and indicators of poor sleep health. Therefore, healthcare services and professionals should be made aware and prepared to provide the appropriate multidisciplinary care to mitigate the physical, psychological, social, and professional impact of sleeping problems.