Long term sleep disturbances in Tunisian COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital: a cohort study

Abstract

Background: A spectrum of long-term COVID19 effects have been reported. Much less data areavailable about how COVID19 will affect sleep over time in recovered patients. We Assessed the long-term impact of COVID 19 infection on sleep.

Methodology:A prospective cohort study including 84 Tunisian COVID19 patients discharged fromhospital. Patients were asked about the period before SARS COV2 related hospital stay, and the 6-9 month-period after hospital discharge, using several self- reported evaluation scales (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inde, the Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and the EuroQol five-dimension five-level questionnaire).

Results: The mean age was 57,59 years with 46 men and 38 women. As compared with baseline statue of patients, all assessed outcomes were significantly impaired (VAS pain: 1,71±1,1 Vs 3,8±2,84; PSQI: 3,25±2,4 VS 6,39±4,73; ESS: 1,94±2,44 VS 3,59±4,53; ISI: 1,95±2,76 VS 6,07±5,96, and PHQ-9: 1,45±2,74 VS 7,47 ± 6,61; p=0.0001). The percentage of poor sleepers (PSQI global score higher than 5) and patients with insomnia had significantly increased from 15,5% to 48,8% and from 1,2 to 11%, respectively (p=0.0001). The percentage of patients experiencingdepression symptoms has also doubled (25% to 58,3%), while severe pain was

reported by more than one out of five patients against only 1,2% at baseline. The post-COVID -19 PSQI was significantly correlated with body mass index (r=0,328, p=0,003); the post-COVID-19 VAS pain (r=0,479, p=0,0001) as well as the post-COVID-19 PHQ-9 scale (r=0,712, p=0,0001).

Conclusion: Sleep disturbances, depression symptoms as well as chronic pain are highly prevalent in long-term follow-up period in hospitalized COVID19 survivors therefore,they should be systematically screened