New study highlights impact of sleep disturbances on COVID-19 and long COVID

In a recent study published in eClinicalMedicine , researchers examined the influence of pre-existing sleep disturbances on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility, severity, and long-term effects. The study found that pre-existing sleep disturbances elevated the risk of susceptibility to COVID-19, as well as hospitalization, mortality, and long COVID, with age and sex playing a role. Study: Pre-existing sleep disturbances and risk of COVID-19: a meta-analysis .

Image Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock.com The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant global morbidity and mortality, with long COVID emerging as a major concern, affecting at least 65 million people worldwide.

Long COVID encompasses a range of symptoms and new-onset diseases, posing ongoing health and economic burdens. Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), were prevalent during the pandemic, affecting 40.49% of the global population.

These disturbances are known to be linked to immune deficiency and inflammation, exacerbating the impact of COVID-19. While previous studies have shown that OSA increases the severity and mortality of COVID-19, other sleep disturbances and their role in long COVID remain less explored. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the relationship between sleep disturbances and long COVID, with some studies indicating a positive association between conditions like OSA and insomnia, while others find no significant link.

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