Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract BackgroundCOVID-19 has not only resulted in acute health issues but also led to persistent symptoms known as long COVID, which have been linked to disruptions in sleep quality. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the associations between COVID-19, long...

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Main Authors: Heng Shao, Hui Chen, Kewang Xu, Quan Gan, Meiling Chen, Yanyu Zhao, Shun Yu, Yutong Kelly Li, Lihua Chen, Bibo Cai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2024-12-01
Series:JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Online Access:https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e53522
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author Heng Shao
Hui Chen
Kewang Xu
Quan Gan
Meiling Chen
Yanyu Zhao
Shun Yu
Yutong Kelly Li
Lihua Chen
Bibo Cai
author_facet Heng Shao
Hui Chen
Kewang Xu
Quan Gan
Meiling Chen
Yanyu Zhao
Shun Yu
Yutong Kelly Li
Lihua Chen
Bibo Cai
author_sort Heng Shao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundCOVID-19 has not only resulted in acute health issues but also led to persistent symptoms known as long COVID, which have been linked to disruptions in sleep quality. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the associations between COVID-19, long COVID, and sleep disturbances, focusing on demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors among a Chinese population. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 1062 participants from China. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical data were collected through web-based questionnaires. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on COVID-19 infection status: infected and noninfected. Within the infected group, participants were further categorized into those with long COVID and those without long COVID. Noninfected participants were included in the non–long COVID group for comparison. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while depression and anxiety were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales, respectively. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to examine the associations between COVID-19, long COVID, and sleep quality, adjusting for demographic and psychosocial factors. ResultsCOVID-19 infection was confirmed in 857 participants, with 273 of them developing long COVID. No significant sex disparities were observed in infection rates (PPPPPPPP ConclusionsOur findings indicate that long COVID is strongly associated with significant sleep disturbances, while initial COVID-19 infection shows a more moderate association with sleep issues. Long COVID–related sleep disturbances were exacerbated by factors such as age, income, and chronic health conditions. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions that address the multifaceted impacts of long COVID on sleep, especially among vulnerable groups such as older adults and those with lower socioeconomic status. Future research should use longitudinal designs to better establish the temporal relationships and causal pathways between COVID-19 and sleep disturbances.
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spelling doaj-art-c741331485ce495cadfd1ede3b0eafd02025-08-20T02:40:13ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Public Health and Surveillance2369-29602024-12-0110e53522e5352210.2196/53522Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional StudyHeng Shaohttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4923-4628Hui Chenhttp://orcid.org/0009-0006-2172-8107Kewang Xuhttp://orcid.org/0009-0008-5023-0177Quan Ganhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-7869-1348Meiling Chenhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1600-3428Yanyu Zhaohttp://orcid.org/0009-0002-4564-3811Shun Yuhttp://orcid.org/0009-0007-1814-4319Yutong Kelly Lihttp://orcid.org/0009-0002-9341-5493Lihua Chenhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3957-5499Bibo Caihttp://orcid.org/0009-0008-1817-4072 Abstract BackgroundCOVID-19 has not only resulted in acute health issues but also led to persistent symptoms known as long COVID, which have been linked to disruptions in sleep quality. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the associations between COVID-19, long COVID, and sleep disturbances, focusing on demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors among a Chinese population. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 1062 participants from China. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical data were collected through web-based questionnaires. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on COVID-19 infection status: infected and noninfected. Within the infected group, participants were further categorized into those with long COVID and those without long COVID. Noninfected participants were included in the non–long COVID group for comparison. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while depression and anxiety were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales, respectively. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to examine the associations between COVID-19, long COVID, and sleep quality, adjusting for demographic and psychosocial factors. ResultsCOVID-19 infection was confirmed in 857 participants, with 273 of them developing long COVID. No significant sex disparities were observed in infection rates (PPPPPPPP ConclusionsOur findings indicate that long COVID is strongly associated with significant sleep disturbances, while initial COVID-19 infection shows a more moderate association with sleep issues. Long COVID–related sleep disturbances were exacerbated by factors such as age, income, and chronic health conditions. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions that address the multifaceted impacts of long COVID on sleep, especially among vulnerable groups such as older adults and those with lower socioeconomic status. Future research should use longitudinal designs to better establish the temporal relationships and causal pathways between COVID-19 and sleep disturbances.https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e53522
spellingShingle Heng Shao
Hui Chen
Kewang Xu
Quan Gan
Meiling Chen
Yanyu Zhao
Shun Yu
Yutong Kelly Li
Lihua Chen
Bibo Cai
Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Study
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
title Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Investigating the Associations Between COVID-19, Long COVID, and Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort investigating the associations between covid 19 long covid and sleep disturbances cross sectional study
url https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e53522
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