The association between probable post‐COVID‐19 condition and sleep‐related parameters: a longitudinal study of non‐hospitalised patients

Abstract

SummaryThe long‐term effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection on sleep remain poorly known. We evaluated the association between probable post‐COVID‐19 condition and changes in sleep quality and quantity before and after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in a consecutive sample of non‐hospitalized adults. Individuals were identified with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in 2020 at the central laboratory of a tertiary hospital in Porto and followed as outpatients. We included patients diagnosed with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection ≥3 months before this evaluation, with no missing data on key variables (n = 2445). Participants completed a questionnaire that included sociodemographic, clinical, and infection‐related questions. We computed changes in sleep‐related parameters referred to 1 month before diagnosis and 1 week before the questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to compute crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Compared to the pre‐infection period, those with probable post‐COVID‐19 condition reported a greater decrease in hours of sleep, had a 2.60 (95% CI 2.02–3.34) higher adjusted odds of perceiving their sleep quality as worsened and experienced a significant increase in number of days with sleeping disturbances as defined according to multiple items. The association between post‐COVID‐19 condition and indicators of poor sleep health requires special attention from healthcare professionals and services. It is essential that appropriate multidisciplinary care is provided to mitigate the physical, psychological, social, and professional impact of sleeping problems in these already burdened patients.