Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Quality of Sleep

Introduction: Some studies have highlighted the effect of COVID-19 infection on the quality of sleep; however, the data is limited. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of insomnia in patients who recently recovered from the COVID-19 infection to evaluate the prevalence and extent of its impact. Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted from January 2021 to March 2021. A total of 500 patients admitted to the intensive care unit or isolation unit of COVID-19 were included in the study at the time of their discharge. The pre-COVID-19 sleep quality of the participants was inquired using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Post-COVID sleep quality was assessed at a 30-day follow-up. Sleep quality was considered poor if the global score was >= 5. Participants that failed to follow up were not included in the study. Results: The mean PSQI score was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 group compared to the preCOVID-19 group (6.28 +/- 2.11 vs. 3.22 +/- 0.80; p-value <0.0001). The percentage of participants with a PSQI score of >= 5 was significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 group compared to the pre-COVID-19 group (45.1% vs. 12.1%; p-value <0.0001). Conclusion: Insomnia has a significant prevalence in recovered COVID-19 patients after 30 days of followup. Hence, patients need to be counseled to follow up in case they experience poor sleep. To avoid the longterm negative impact on patients experiencing insomnia, timely identification and treatment are important.