Sleep medicine and coronavirus disease 2019

Abstract

Purpose of reviewTo evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of people with sleep disorders, to explore relationships between OSA and COVID-19, and to describe current knowledge of the effect of the pandemic on sleep globally.Recent findingsCOVID-19 has led to significant changes in the practice of sleep medicine, including the care of patients with OSA. An OSA diagnosis may portend a worse prognosis with COVID-19, whilst prior COVID-19 may have an impact on sleep breathing.SummaryThe pandemic has caused marked difficulties with access to diagnostic sleep studies and reduced capacity for CPAP initiation. Conversely, adherence to CPAP therapy may have improved, and use of remote consultations and telemonitoring has increased. An OSA diagnosis may be associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19, although any apparent relationship may be attributable to confounding factors, such as obesity and metabolic disease. Small studies have reported some increase in CPAP requirements in OSA patients following COVID-19 infection. More generally, the pandemic has been associated with a deterioration in subjective sleep quality across the population; much of this appears because of increased anxiety and stress. Finally, studies assessing putative links between COVID-19 and REM sleep issues are ongoing.

Sleep quality and sleep patterns among recovered individuals during post-COVID-19 among Jordanian: A cross-sectional national study

“…The disparities in sleep disturbance proportions and changes across countries may be explained, at least in part, by differences in pandemic control policy and general perception of the COVID-19 crisis. [ 16 , 17 ] Interestingly, Kocevska et al, reported that 20 of pre-pandemic deep sleep had exacerbated sleep issues during postCOVID-19 era, while a 25% of respondents with pre-pandemic low quality sleep had improved sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ 35 ] They contended that the impacts of COVID-19 on sleep quality are not uniform, emphasizing individual differences in response to the COVID-19 crisis.…”

“…[ 13 , 14 ] Despite reports revealing poor in hospitalized patients, sleep quality is important, and sleeping issues in recovered COVID-19 people require more research. [ 15 , 16 ] Sleep disorders may exacerbate the consequences of COVID-19 on physical and mental health. [ 17 ] Compared to COVID-19 patients who did not have sleep disturbances, patients with sleep disturbances reported a greater rate of hospital-acquired infections, broader hospital stays, and a more significant requirement for ICU entrance.…”

Quality of Life, Mental Health, and CPAP Compliance in Thai Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The rate of sleep disturbance increased from 54% to 66% in OSA patients and from 29% to 40% in the control group during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by Spicuzza et al However, there was no significant difference in the percentage of depression between OSA patients and controls (61% vs. 65%) [ 15 ]. A review by Gill et al found that adherence to CPAP therapy may have improved, and the use of remote consultations and telemonitoring increased during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 16 ]. A study by Demirovic et al demonstrated that CPAP adherence improved during the COVID-19 lockdown in severe OSA patients [ 17 ].…”

Sleep and COVID-19. A Case Report of a Mild COVID-19 Patient Monitored by Consumer-Targeted Sleep Wearables

“…An early detection algorithm (EDA) that includes sleep parameters should be developed. Wearable devices could be useful in limiting the transmission of infection during a critical period in the disease process by alerting users of a possible early infection [ 10 , 11 ]. Additionally, this case study shows how data from devices they routinely wear could be used for medical purposes constituting a potential paradigm shift in clinical practice.…”