The coronavirus pandemic has had and continues to have a massive impact on global health. One such consequence is persistent health problems after surviving an acute coronavirus infection, also known as long Covid or post-acute Covid-19 syndrome.
The present systematic review with meta-analysis determined how often sleep disorders occur in adults in the context of Long Covid.
How common are sleep disorders in the context of Long Covid?
The authors conducted a systematic search to identify relevant studies from several medical-scientific databases.
Publications up to November 21, 2022 were considered for analysis, with average or median follow-up for at least 28 days.
The research identified 153 articles with a total of 252,437 Covid-19 patients. Of these, 31 studies were included in the quantitative summary.
Systematic review of 154 studies with 252,437 people
On this basis, the authors estimated a combined prevalence of sleep disorders in the context of Long Covid of 28.98 percent. The problem affected an average of one in three patients. Sleep disorders following Covid-19 were most common in Europe, with the lowest rates reported in Southeast Asia. Poor sleep quality was the most frequently cited symptom, followed by excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia and sleep apnea.
Prevalence was higher when patients were surveyed using standardized scales such as the Epworth sleepiness scale or Pittsburgh sleep quality index compared to symptom questionnaires, self-reports, or face-to-face interviews. Women had a 59% higher risk of sleep problems. In addition, severe or critical acute illnesses with Covid-19 were important risk factors for sleep disorders in long-Covid.
Every third person develops sleep disorders, women more often
The systematic review shows a high prevalence of sleep disorders after acute Covid-19 has been overcome. The decisive factors seem to be the severity of Covid-19 and the gender of those affected.
Regional differences, different definitions and the tools used to assess a sleep disorder played additional roles.
The authors emphasize that the mechanisms underlying sleep disorders in Long Covid should be urgently investigated in order to find effective therapeutic strategies to treat them.