Binge-drinking alcohol during the pandemic is associated with poor sleep quality: a population-based study, COVIDInconfidentes

Introduction: The high consumption of alcoholic beverages contributes to the etiology and maintenance of several health problems. Binge-drinking is used to define the episodic excessive use of alcohol when a person consumes large doses of alcoholic beverages on a single episode. In adults, frequent alcohol consumption is associated with circadian and sleep misalignment, compromising functions in all physiological systems. Objective: To evaluate the association of binge-drinking alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic with sleep quality. Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based study, between October and December 2020 in two medium-sized cities in Minas Gerais. Sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, with a global score from 0 to 21. Scores of 5-10 indicate poor sleep quality. Alcohol consumption was evaluated by the frequency of consumption, and binge-drinking was evaluated by the question: “In the last 30 days, have you consumed 5 or more doses of alcoholic beverages (men) or 4 or more doses of alcoholic beverages (women) on a single occasion? One dose of alcohol is equivalent to one can of beer or one glass of wine, or one dose of distilled alcoholic beverage?”. Multivariate logistic regression was used to verify the association of binge-drinking alcohol with sleep quality. Results: Of the individuals evaluated, more than half had poor sleep quality (52.5%), were female (51.9%), black or brown (67.9%), with minimum high school education (56.5%), and family income below 5 minimum wages (60.4%). Alcohol consumption was reported by 58.2%, and prevalence of binge-drinking was 30.2%. In multivariate analysis, adjusted for sex, age, income and anxiety and frequency of alcohol consumption, individuals in binge-drinking had double the chance of had poor sleep quality (OR=2.06;95% CI 1.15-3.70). Conclusion: Individuals in binge-drinking during covid-19 pandemic are more likely to have poor sleep quality. Our results are important because the pandemic may have increased stress due to loss of income and employment, as well as increased social isolation. This stress can lead to increased binge-drinking and increased chances of having poor quality sleep.

Insufficient vitamin D scenario is associated with poor sleep quality during the pandemic: a population-based study, COVIDInconfidentes

Introduction: Hypovitaminosis D is a global health problem that affects more than one billion people worldwide, and this prevalence is expected to have increased during a pandemic with social restriction measures. Vitamin D has been implicated in extraskeletal functions in many physiological mechanisms, including sleep. Objective: To evaluate the association of vitamin D scenario with sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Cross-sectional, populationbased study, between October and December 2020 in two medium-sized cities in Minas Gerais. Sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), with a global score from 0 to 21. Scores of 5-10 indicate poor sleep quality. We evaluated a possible scenario of vitamin D adequacy, considering the time of sun exposure and the consumption of food supplements that are sources of vitamin D. Thus, we classified the vitamin D scenario as sufficient when the average daily sun exposure was greater than or equal to 30 minutes/day or the individual reported consuming a food supplement that is a source of vitamin D. And insufficient individuals who expose themselves to the sun for less than 30 minutes/day or do not consume a food supplement that is a source of vitamin D. Multiple logistic regression was used to verify the association of insufficient vitamin D scenario with sleep quality. Results: Of the individuals evaluated, most were female (51.9%), black or brown (67.9%), with minimum high school education (56.5%), and family income below 5 minimum wages (60.4%). Regarding vitamin D, 35.0% had insufficient sun exposure (< 30min/day), 77.9% did not use vitamin D source supplements. Evaluating the vitamin D scenario, 27.1% were insufficient. The mean of PSQI score was 6.32 (95%CI: 6.03-6.62) e 52.5% had poor quality. In multivariate analysis, adjusted for sex, age, and income, subjects with insufficient vitamin D had 1.41 times the chance of having poor sleep quality (OR=1.41;95% CI: 1.01-1.98). Conclusion: Individuals with insufficient vitamin D scenario are more likely to have poor sleep quality during the pandemic of COVID-19. Thus, this study demonstrates the importance of evaluating the impact of the pandemic on health conditions like vitamin D, and how they relate to sleep.

Poor sleep quality is associated with an impaired eating pattern during the pandemic: a population-based study, COVIDInconfidentes

Introduction: During the pandemic, changes resulting from social and routine restrictions may have led to a change in sleep quality patterns. Furthermore, poor sleep quality may result in increased hunger and food intake, especially of ultraprocessed foods. Objective: To evaluate the association of sleep quality with food consumption pattern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based study, between October and December 2020 in two medium-sized cities in Minas Gerais. Sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, with a global score from 0 to 21. Scores of 5-10 indicate poor sleep quality and greater than 10, a possible sleep disorder. The unhealthy eating indicator was designed according to food processing, unprocessed (fruits, vegetables and legumes, milk, and beans) and ultra-processed (processed meats, sweets, instant noodles, and soft drinks). Unprocessed foods consumed daily, and ultra-processed foods consumed never received the lowest score (zero). The highest score (four points) was received by unprocessed foods never, and ultraprocessed foods daily. The total score ranged from 0 (best) to 32 points (worst quality). It was subsequently categorized into quartiles and grouped to dichotomized variable: unhealthy food (2nd to 4th quartile;> 5 points) and healthy (1st quartile;< 4 points). Multiple logistic regression was used to verify the association of sleep quality with dietary consumption pattern. Results: Of the individuals evaluated, most were female (51.9%), black or brown (67.9%), with minimum high school education (56.5%), and family income below 5 minimum wages (60.4%). The food score ranged from 0 to 24 points, and 76.8% had an unhealthy eating pattern. Regarding sleep, 38.6% had poor quality, and 13.9% sleep disorder. In multivariate analysis, adjusted for sex, age, and income, subjects with poor sleep quality had 1.81 times the chance of having an unhealthy eating pattern (OR=1.81;95% CI 1.25- 2.62), and those with sleep disturbance had 2.28 times the chance of having an unhealthy eating pattern (OR=2.28;95% CI: 1.27-4.10). Conclusion: Individuals with poor quality and sleep disorders are more likely to have unhealthy eating during the pandemic of COVID-19. This study demonstrates the importance of investigating the repercussion of the pandemic on sleep and eating habits, and worsening health status of these individuals.