An international study of post-COVID sleep health

Objectives: COVID-19 has infected millions of people worldwide, with growing evidence that individuals with a history of infection may continue to show persistent post-COVID symptoms (long COVID). The aim of this study was to investigate sleep health in an international sample of individuals who reported previously test-ing positive for COVID-19.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: Online survey distributed online between March and June 2021.Participants: A total of 1001 individuals who reported a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 across different geo-graphical regions, including North and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe.Measurements: Self-reported sleep health, using the Regulatory Satisfaction Alertness Timing Efficiency Dura-tion scale, as recalled before a COVID-19 diagnosis and also reported currently.Results: Individuals reported worse overall current sleep health, with lower ratings across the 6 dimensions of sleep health (sleep regularity, satisfaction, alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration) compared to their ratings as recalled before COVID-19 infection. Greater severity of COVID-19 symptoms was the strongest pre-dictor of poor current sleep health (P < .001), independent of demographics, presence of a pre-existing chronic health condition, and time since infection. Poor current sleep health was associated with poorer cur-rent quality of life (P < .001).Conclusions: Poor current sleep health is evident in individuals with a history of COVID-19, particularly those with more severe symptoms at the time of their COVID-19 infection and is associated with a poorer quality of life. Clini-cians and researchers should assess sleep health in COVID-19 patients and investigate long-term associations with their mental and physical health, as well as potential benefits of improving sleep in this population.(c) 2022 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.