ABSTRACT
Background: The current literature concerning sleep quality among post-COVID patients is limited. The aim of this observational cohort study was to evaluate if there is significant and persistent sleep disturbance in patients after recovery from COVID-19. The patients were followed up 1, 3, and 6 months after hospital discharge (in-person visits). Sleep quality was evaluated in each visit with the aid of multiple structured questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Stop-BANG (S-B) questionnaire. Result(s): 131 patients (59.5% males) aged 56.1+/- 11.2 with prior hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled. The most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension (30.6% of patients), cardiovascular disease other than arterial hypertension (17.4%) and chronic obstructive lung disease (11.6%), while 38% of patients had no comorbid conditions. The mean values of the global PSQI were 8.28 +/-3.8, 7.43+/-3.7, and 7.46+/-3.5 in the first, second and third follow up respectively. Statistically significant differences were found for sleep quality (PSQI) between the first and second (p=0.001) and between the first and third visit (p=0.046). During the first visit, the ESS was 6.3+/-4.2, AIS: 7.1+/-4.9, S-B: 2.9+/-1.5 and FSS : 3.65+/-1.8. Statistically significant differences were found for FSS between the first and second (p=0.003) and for FSS (p=0.001) and AIS (p=0.048) between the first and third visit. Conclusion(s): Our findings reveal significant and persistent sleep disturbance up to 6 months after hospital discharge, although there was notable amelioration over time.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The stressful conditions that emerged during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have had a negative impact on sleep quality in large part of the healthcare worker population. This study aimed to assess the self-reported quality of sleep among members of the Emergency Ambulance Service personnel of the National Emergency Center in the region of Thrace, Northeastern Greece, and to investigate its associations with perceived stress, feelings, and perceptions of well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The study was conducted from March to May 2021 using an online structured questionnaire, and the collected data included: socio-demographic characteristics, occupational and medical history, distress and mental health issues due to COVID-19 and the following self-administrated instruments: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and Perceived Stress Scale-14 items (PSS-14). RESULTS: Among the 74 participants, 71 % were poor sleepers (i.e., PSQI >5). The majority (83 % of the sample) reported feelings of stigma due to their occupation, with the proportion being higher among women (100 % vs 78 % in men, p =0.05) and poor sleepers (95 % vs 65 % in good sleepers, p =0.03). Poor sleepers had significantly lower WHO-5 scores than good sleepers (13.8 ± 4.9 vs 16.9 ± 5.8, p =0.04) and were experiencing significantly more anxiety and/or sadness at the time they answered the questionnaire (69.1 % vs 35.3 %, p =0.02). Perceived stress was significantly positively correlated with the "Latency" dimension of the PSQI (p =0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Poor sleep quality and feelings of stigmatization were prevalent for most of the sample. Poor sleep quality was associated more frequently with reported feelings of stigmatization, anxiety and/or sadness, and impaired well-being. HIPPOKRATIA 2021, 25 (3):126-133.