J Med Internet Res . Long Coronavirus Infection is Associated with Significant Sleep Disturbances as Detected by Wearable Health Devices

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J Med Internet Res


. 2022 Jun 20.
doi: 10.2196/38000. Online ahead of print.
Long Coronavirus Infection is Associated with Significant Sleep Disturbances as Detected by Wearable Health Devices


Mario Mekhael ¹ , Chan Ho Lim ¹ , Abdel Hadi El Hajjar ¹ , Charbel Noujaim ¹ , Christopher Pottle ¹ , Noor Makan ¹ , Lilas Dagher ² , Yichi Zhang ¹ , Nour Chouman ¹ , Dan L Li ¹ , Tarek Ayoub ¹ , Nassir Marrouche ¹



Affiliations

• PMID: 35731968
• DOI: 10.2196/38000

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) patients have increased sleep disturbances and decreased sleep quality during and after the infection. Current published literature focuses mainly on qualitative analyses based on surveys and subjective measurements rather than quantitative data.
Objective: We assess the long-term effects of COVID-19 through sleep patterns from continuous signals collected via wearable wristbands.
Methods: Patients with a history of COVID-19 were compared to a control arm of individuals who never had COVID-19. Baseline demographics were collected for each subject. Linear correlations amongst the mean duration of each sleep phase and the mean daily biometrics were performed. The average duration for each subject's total sleep time and sleep phases per night were calculated and compared between the two groups.
Results: The study includes 122 COVID-19 patients and 588 controls. Total sleep time was positively correlated with respiratory rate (RR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2). Increased awake sleep phase was correlated with increased heart rate (HR), decreased RR, heart rate variability (HRV), and SpO2. Increased light sleep time was correlated with increased RR and SpO2 in COVID-19 group. Deep sleep duration was correlated with decreased HR, and increased RR and SpO2. When comparing different sleep phases, long COVID-19 patients had decreased light sleep time (244±67 vs 258±67, P=.003), and decreased deep sleep (123±66 vs 128±58, P =.02).
Conclusions: Regardless of the demographic background and symptom levels, patients with a history of COVID-19 infection demonstrated altered sleep architecture when compared to matched controls. Sleep of COVID-19 patients was characterized by decreased total sleep, and deep sleep.