Jet lag type

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, an estimated 11 million jet passengers were traveling daily. While many were traveling within the same time zone, a significant portion were subjecting themselves to circadian desynchrony by rapidly crossing across multiple time zones. This phenomenon, commonly known as jet lag, is mechanistically similar to other forms of circadian misalignment such as shift work. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of jet lag has direct implications for high stakes industries such as aviation, military, medicine, and athletics as well other circadian rhythm disorders. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Life before and after COVID-19: The 'New Normal' Benefits the Regularity of Daily Sleep and Eating Routines among College Students.

After the COVID-19 lockdown, a 'new normal' was established, involving a hybrid lifestyle that combined face-to-face with virtual activity. We investigated, in a case-control study, the impact of the 'new normal' on daily sleep and eating routines, compared with pre-pandemic conditions. To do this, we propose using social and eating jet lag as markers of the regularity in daily routines. Additionally, we studied whether the 'new normal' had an impact on the body mass index (BMI), diet quality, and other health-related variables. This study included 71 subjects in the pre-pandemic group, and 68 in the 'new normal' group (20-30 years). For all participants, we evaluated social and eating jet lag, BMI, diet and sleep quality, eating behaviors, physical activity, and well-being. General linear models were used to compare outcome variables between pre-pandemic and 'new normal' groups. The results revealed that the 'new normal' was associated with greater regularity in daily sleep and eating routines (-0.7 h of social jet lag (95% CI: -1.0, -0.4), and -0.3 h of eating jet lag (95% CI: -0.5, -0.1)), longer sleep duration on weekdays (1.8 h (95% CI: 1.5, 2.2)), and lower sleep debt (-1.3 h (95% CI: -1.7, -0.9)). Regarding BMI and other health-related variables, we observed that these variables were similar between 'new normal' and pre-pandemic groups. These findings indicate that the 'new normal' had a positive impact on daily sleep and eating routines. Additionally, our results indicated that the 'new normal' offered college students a more sustainable lifestyle, which was associated with more hours of sleep during the week and lower sleep debt. This, in the long run, could have a positive impact on BMI and overall health.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on sleep habits, chronotype, and health-related quality of life among high school students: a longitudinal study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the population of affected areas in multiple dimensions. Adolescents have been especially affected with school closure and home confinement. The impact of the pandemic on sleep habits and quality of sleep and quality of life among adolescents has not been adequately characterized. We hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic has induced an evening shift of the daily rhythm among adolescents and adversely affected sleep quality and quality of life of high school students. METHODS: Students were questioned about their usual bed and wake-up times and answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Horne-Osteberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-abbreviated version before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: Ninety-four students (64% females, aged 15 ± 1 years) participated in both phases of the study. Students delayed bed and wake-up times by 1.5 (0.5-2.0) and 2.0 (1.5-2.5) hours, respectively. Chronotype (per the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire) shifted toward eveningness during the pandemic. Sleep duration increased and quality of sleep (per the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) improved only among those students with shorter sleep duration before the pandemic. During the pandemic, the physical and psychological domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire worsened but the environmental domain improved as compared with the study before the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: High school students have delayed bed and wake-up times and shifted chronotype toward eveningness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The worsening of the physical and psychological World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire domains and improvement in the environmental domain highlight the conflicting experiences that high school students are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[The effects of quarantine for SARS-CoV-2 on sleep: An online survey]. / Les effets de confinement SARS-CoV-2 sur le sommeil : enquête en ligne au cours de la quatrième semaine de confinement.

OBJECTIVES: Explore the evolution of sleep during the SARS-CoV-2 quarantine period and define associated factors. METHODS: An online survey of patients in quarantine. Questions targeted the conditions of quarantine, sleep related behaviours and exposure to factors known to affect sleep and circadian rhythms (light exposure and sport). RESULTS: In all, 1777 participants were included: 77% women and 72% aged 25-54 years. Quarantine conditions were most frequently in couples with children (36%) and in a house with a garden (51%). Forty-seven percent of participants reported a decrease in sleep quality during quarantine. Factors associated with a reduction in sleep quality by logistic regression were sleep reduction (OR 15.52 P<0.001), going to bed later (OR 1.72 P<0.001), getting up earlier (2.18 P=0.01), an increase in sleep-wake irregularity (OR 2.29 P<0.001), reduced exposure to daylight (OR 1.46 P=0.01) and increased screen use in the evenings (OR 1.33 P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Sleep quality tended to reduce during quarantine and this was associated with changes in sleep behaviours and light exposure, especially in the evening. In order to optimise sleep during quarantine, regular sleep and wake times, at least 1hour exposure to daylight and a reduction of screen use in the evenings are suggested.