RESUMEN
La pandemia debido al coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) y los períodos de confinamiento impactaron negativamente en el estado de ánimo, la salud y la calidad de vida. Este estudio evaluó el impacto de los períodos de confinamiento en Argentina sobre la capacidad inmunológica, es decir, la capacidad del cuerpo para responder a desafíos de salud (como infecciones) a través de la activación de una respuesta inmunológica apropiada, y la calidad del sueño de los estudiantes universitarios de Buenos Aires. Una encuesta retrospectiva entre estudiantes (N=482, 29.3% varones, con una edad promedio (DS) de 22.6 (3.5) años) reveló que, tanto la aptitud inmunológica como la calidad del sueño fueron significativamente peores durante la pandemia de la COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Los efectos fueron más pronunciados durante los períodos de confinamiento. No se encontraron diferencias relevantes debidas al sexo y la edad. En conclusión, los períodos de confinamiento por COVID-19 tuvieron un impacto negativo significativo en la capacidad inmunológica y en la calidad del sueño. Esta observación es preocupante, ya que investigaciones previas mostraron que una aptitud inmunológica deficiente está asociada con experimentar síntomas más graves de la enfermedad por COVID-19 cuando se está infectado con el virus SARS-CoV-2.
The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated lockdown periods had a significant negative impact on mood, health, and quality of life. This study evaluated to what extent the lockdown periods in Argentina had an impact on immune fitness, i.e., the body's capacity to respond to health challenges (such as infections) by activating an appropriate immune response, and sleep quality of university students in Buenos Aires. A retrospective survey among students (N=482, 29.3% males, mean (SD) age of 22.6 (3.5) years old) revealed that, compared to before COVID-19, both immune fitness and sleep quality were significantly poorer during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.001). The effects were most pronounced during the lockdown periods. No relevant sex and age differences were found. In conclusion, the COVID-19 lockdown periods had a significant negative impact on immune fitness and sleep quality. This observation is of concern, as previous research showed that a poor immune fitness is associated with experiencing more severe COVID-19 symptoms when infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Calidad de Vida/psicología , Cuarentena/psicología , COVID-19/inmunología , Calidad del Sueño , Inmunidad/inmunologíaRESUMEN
In Argentina, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic led to serious changes to social interaction, health, economy, and education. Argentina experienced two extensive lockdown periods. University education remained virtual for almost two academic years. The purpose of the present work was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns in Argentina on alcohol consumption, hangover severity and smoking among university students in Buenos Aires. A retrospective online survey was conducted in 2021 among students of the University of Buenos Aires. Participants aged 18-35 years old were asked about the average number of alcoholic drinks and number of drinking days per week, binge drinking occasions, drunkenness, next day hangover severity, number of hangovers per month, and smoking behavior. The results showed that the first and second COVID-19 lockdowns were associated with significant reductions in both weekly alcohol consumption, and hangover severity and subjective intoxication on their heaviest drinking occasions. Males consumed significantly more alcohol than females, and older students (25-35 years old) consumed more alcohol than younger students (18-24 years old). In addition, younger students reduced the number of cigarettes smoked per day during the two lockdown periods while older students exhibited significantly more smoking days per week. In conclusion, the present work in Argentinian students revealed a significant reduction in weekly alcohol consumption, and subjective intoxication and hangover severity on their heaviest drinking occasions during the pandemic lockdown periods.
RESUMEN
Studies have shown that a large proportion of traffic accidents around the world are related to inadequate or disordered sleep. Recent surveys have linked driver fatigue to 16% to 20% of serious highway accidents in the UK, Australia, and Brazil. Fatigue as a result of sleep disorders (especially obstructive sleep apnea), excessive workload and lack of physical and mental rest, have been shown to be major contributing factors in motor vehicle accidents. A number of behavioral, physiological, and psychometric tests are being used increasingly to evaluate the impact of fatigue on driver performance. These include the oculography, polysomnography, actigraphy, the maintenance of wakefulness test, and others. Various strategies have been proposed for preventing or reducing the impact of fatigue on motor vehicle accidents. These have included: Educational programs emphasizing the importance of restorative sleep and the need for drivers to recognize the presence of fatigue symptoms, and to determine when to stop to sleep; The use of exercise to increase alertness and to promote restorative sleep; The use of substances or drugs to promote sleep or alertness (i.e. caffeine, modafinil, melatonin and others), as well as specific sleep disorders treatment; The use of CPAP therapy for reducing excessive sleepiness among drivers who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence cited in this review justifies the call for all efforts to be undertaken that may increase awareness of inadequate sleep as a cause of traffic accidents. It is strongly recommended that, for the purpose of promoting highway safety and saving lives, all disorders that cause excessive sleepiness should be investigated and monitored.