RESUMEN
Background: People with post-COVID syndrome (PCS) suffer from persisting symptoms, e.g. self-reported sleep disorders (31%). However, sleep has not yet been objectively measured by polysomnography (PSG) in PCS. Objective(s): To examine differences in sleep characteristics between PCS and healthy controls (HC). Method(s): People with PCS and HC were included in this prospective trial. All subjects performed baseline characteristics, 1-minute sit-to-stand test (STST), subjective impairments of sleep and a single night sleep assessment in a sleep lab via PSG and Whoop strap (digital health coach). Post-COVID functional scale (PCFS) and Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (OSCI) were assessed only in PCS. Result(s): To date, 20 PCS patients (49+/-11y, FVC 87+/-12%pred., DLCO: 81+/-19%pred., PCFS: 2.8+/-0.9, OSCI: 2.7+/-1.3pts) and 3 HC (44+/-9y, FVC 92+/-3%pred., DLCO 105+/-25%pred.) completed the trial. Only PCS patients reported an impaired sleep ("Is your sleep impaired since COVID?" [yes: 89%]) mainly due to insomnia in the middle of the night (61%). Total sleep time and the distribution of sleep stages (light, deep, REM) were comparable between PCS and HC. The REM latency trended to be longer in PCS vs. HC (114+/-51 vs. 52+/-17 min.). Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) trended to be higher in PCS (8.9+/-8.5 vs. 0.9+/-1.2 events/h), 55.6% of PCS reported an AHI>5/h. The individual quality of recovery after the study night was classified to be "adequate" (PCS: 56+/-21%, HC: 52+/-15%). Conclusion(s): In PCS, sleep seems to be subjectively and objectively impaired compared to HC. A significant number of PCS patients (44%) was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. Hence, measuring sleep might be an important diagnostic tool in the management of PCS.
RESUMEN
Background: Following a SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, or thoracic pain may persist for months after the illness (long-COVID). We investigated the prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) in long-COVID. Patients and Methods: Long-COVID patients who underwent inpatient rehabilitation and received diagnostic polysomnography or polygraphy were included in this retrospective data analysis. Result(s): 70 patients (33 women) were included, 4 with pre-existing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Among the remaining 66 patients, 22 (33%) had SRBD (4 with central sleep apnea and 18 with OSA). Thus, overall SRBD prevalence was 26/70 (37%). Patients with SRBD were significantly older and showed a higher proportion of men. In addition, SRBD patients were more likely to require oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, or invasive ventilation as part of their COVID-19-related hospitalisation prior to rehabilitation. View inline Conclusion(s): In Long-COVID, SRBD prevalence in our sample is 33% and 37%, respectively, which is higher than average. The diagnostic portfolio in Long-COVID should therefore include screening for the presence of SRBD. SRBD patients show a more intensive need for therapy in the context of their COVID-19-associated hospitalization, although this may be attributed to older age.