Sleep Disturbances in Long COVID: A Cohort Prospective Study

We aimed to determine the incidence of tardive sleep disturbances among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection, and to analyze their predictive factors.

It was a prospective cohort study, conducted in the department of respiratory diseases and Allergy, at Hedi Chaker University Hospital (Sfax-Tunisia). It included inpatients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, who were discharged alive from hospital. The study protocol included 2 steps. First, patients were evaluated during their hospitalization. Then, each eligible patient was assessed 6–9 months after discharge. We thus asked them about fatigability, cognitive impairment and the following scales: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess sleep disturbances; the visual analog scale (VAS) to assess pain; the modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC scale) to evaluate dyspnea; the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms and the Euroqol 5 Dimensions 3 Levels Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) to assess the quality of life.

The median age of the participants was 59 years [IQR (53–68)]. Among them, 51.2% were females. According to PSQI, the incidence of sleep disturbances after COVID was 48.8%. In multivariate analysis, predictive factors of sleep disturbances were: VAS score (β = 0.35; p = 0.007); fatigability (β = 1.78; p = 0.016); anxiety/depression (β = 4.25; p < 0.001) and unmarried status (β = − 2.56; p = 0.044).

Our study highlighted the burden of sleep disturbances in COVID-19 survivors. Screening for these disorders in long haulers helps to maintain a good quality of life, and to prevent ulterior physical or mental complications, in order to promote good health and well-being on physical, psychological and social aspects.