ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social isolation and reports of insomnia. However, reports of changes in sleep duration and associated factors are few. To determine the impact of COVID-19 on changes in sleep behavior, data were analyzed from an online survey of adults recruited via social media that included questions asking whether the respondent slept less or more after the onset of the pandemic as well as self-reported sociodemographic and occupational information; beliefs about COVID-19; and responses pertaining to loneliness, anxiety, and depression. There were 5,175 respondents; 53.9% had a change in sleep duration.17.1% slept less and 36.7% slept more. Sleeping more was related to greater education, being single/divorced/separated, unemployed or a student. Being retired, divorced/separated or a homemaker, and living in the Mountain or Central time zones were associated with less sleep. Beliefs that COVID-19 would result in personal adverse consequences was associated with both more and less sleep. However, the strongest associations for both more and less sleep were seen with depression, anxiety, and loneliness. In summary, changes in sleep duration since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were highly prevalent among social media users and were associated with several sociodemographic factors and beliefs that COVID-19 would have adverse personal impacts. However, the strongest associations occurred with worse mental health suggesting that improvements may occur with better sleep.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2021.2002800 .
ABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to examine the effect of coronavirus disease on treatment adherence and self-reported sleep duration among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treated with positive airway pressure therapy. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of medical records of patients seen in the Sleep and Circadian Clinic at Brigham Health during the immediate period of 1 month after the national lockdown was announced on March 15, 2020. Patients with OSA were included only if positive airway pressure adherence data were available in the 12 months before and in the month after the lockdown. Patients with other sleep disorders and patients with OSA without adherence data were excluded. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 63.5 ± 13.9 years, 55% of the participants were men, and the mean body mass index was 31.8 ± 7.9 kg/m². Severe OSA was noted among 59.5% compared with 29.3% with moderate OSA, and 11.2% with mild OSA. An increased number of patients reported insomnia after the lockdown (41% vs 48%, P = .02). Sex stratification showed worsening insomnia only among women. There was no significant difference in positive airway pressure adherence as measured by hours of use, self-reported sleep duration, or use of sleep medications. CONCLUSIONS: Post- coronavirus disease lockdown had a negative impact on sleep as evidenced by increased reporting of insomnia, particularly among women, but no impact on positive airway pressure adherence or self-reported sleep duration.