ABSTRACT
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the third global crisis after two epidemics of severe acute respiratory syndromes. It has affected general public besides health care systems and governments. Confinements and lock downs have changed waking up time and going to bed time, ultimately affecting circadian clocks that can disturb sleep quality which can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression. This puts the most susceptible group -young adults and females at risk of psychological disorders and even inflammatory events. Several kinds of sleep disorders due to COVID-19 including insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepiness during daytime, post-traumatic-like sleep dysfunction, abnormal dreams, and restless legs syndrome have been reported. As sleep deprivation can alter circadian clock and weaken immunity which makes human more susceptible to pulmonary inflammatory process of COVID-19 and even enhance its manifestations, it should be considered as an urgent complication that needs to be treated. Furthermore, longstanding effects of sleep disturbances during COVID-19 pandemic need to be elucidated © 2023 The Korean Society of Sleep Medicine
ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this article is to study the lifestyle changes such as physical activity, dietary habits, sleeping patterns, and psychological parameters during the COVID-19 lockdown among young adults. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out by an online web-based survey. The survey was open for 2 weeks and was shared on all social media platforms. It was composed of 20 questions divided into sections, namely, general information and comorbidities, dietary pattern, physical activity, sleeping pattern, and self-reported psychological health. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: Out of the 301 participants, majority were female students who belonged to higher socioeconomic status with a mean age of 23.31 years. Only 100 (33.2%) got involved regularly in any type of exercise during the lockdown period. The participants consumed cereals for a median number of 6 days in a week. One-third of the participants slept for 8–10 h daily during the lockdown period. Psychological issues were reported by 44% (132) of the individuals. Conclusion: Our study showed that only one-third of the participants had the habit of exercising regularly during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Almost half of the participants reported a significant change in their diet. There was an increase in the number of hours of sleep in a day. Psychological health problems in the form of stress, anxiety, and depression were reported by a high proportion of individuals.
ABSTRACT
Children's mental and physical development are directly influenced by the amount of sleep they get, making it very necessary for them to get enough of it. Despite this, the prevalence of chronic sleep loss throughout the nation is on the rise. In this regard, the purpose of the current research was to shed light on the sleeping patterns of school-going children as well as the behaviours they engage in before going to bed. The objectives of the present study are to determine the pre sleep habits, duration and pattern of sleep among school children and to investigate the effects of the improper sleep on the performance. The study is made to know the sleeping habit of the school students and the effect of improper sleep on their performance health related issues. The study has been carried out in Chennai city. The school going children are the targeted respondents. 600 sample respondents are selected from the study area using simple random technique. The data were collected using the interview schedule. The parents of the children respondents who are aged upto 10 years were asked to fill the interview schedule as the parents are aware and reliable for collecting the information. The findings of our research, it is concluded that the children studying 9th standard and above (aged more than 15 years) are not having proper sleep due to sleeping in day time, use of electronic gadgets, academic commitments, family problems and health problems. Along with proper nutrition and regular exercise, should also take into account how much time is spent sleeping.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the perception of physical fitness, screen time, and self-reported sleep hygiene in children and adolescents (CA) from the extreme south of Chile and its associations with waist-to-height ratio (WtHr). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 594 schoolchildren from 5th to 8th grade of primary education, belonging to municipal educational establishments in the Magallanes region, Chile. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed through the 20-m shuttle run test, muscle strength through handgrip and the standing broad jump test, physical fitness perception through the International Fitness Scale, and central obesity through the waist-to-height index. In addition, sleep hygiene and screen time were measured. RESULTS: More than 92% of CA spent more than two hours a day watching or using screens. In addition, CA with excess central adiposity had a lower perception of physical fitness, and lower muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness compared to CA with normal values of adiposity. CONCLUSIONS: CA of the present study spent a high number of hours watching or using screens and had poor sleep quality. In addition, excessive central adiposity was associated with lower physical fitness.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The massive increase in COVID-19 cases led to the implementation of nationwide lockdown in Turkey. While enforced lockdown is an effective strategy to abate the transmission of the virus, it causes significant lifestyle changes in every part of the community. This study aims to assess the changes in eating habits, sleeping behaviour and physical activity status of final-year medical students (interns) whose education was suspended during the pandemic. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional epidemiological study, an online questionnaire was created. Interns were asked questions regarding socio-demographic status, eating habits, sleeping behaviour and physical activity status before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in dietary habits and sleep quality were evaluated under the guidance of Turkey Dietary Guidelines, Determination of Nutritional Status Report, Turkey National Nutrition and Health Survey and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. SETTING: Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine - Ankara, Turkey. PARTICIPANTS: Among 536 students, a total of 340 students (63·4 %) answered the questionnaire. RESULTS: After the beginning of lockdown, an increase in BMI was observed in both female (P = 0·002) and male students (P = 0·013). Students having healthy dietary habits increased by 18·8 % and unhealthy dietary habits decreased by 3·2 % during lockdown (P < 0·001). Overall, 63·2 % of students reported a decrease in physical activity, and 33·6 % reported a reduction in sleep quality, whereas 38·6 % reported an improvement in sleep quality. There was no significant difference in sleep quality between genders (P = 0·075). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that medical school suspension and enforced lockdown led to significant changes in interns' eating behaviour, physical activity and sleeping habits.