In fact, one study found that those with obstructive sleep apnea had an 8-fold greater risk for COVID-19 infection and double the risk of developing respiratory failure.Īnd these findings aren’t exclusive to the current coronavirus. ![]() Obstructive sleep apnea has also been found to be more prevalent in COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization and in those that progressed to having respiratory failure. However, it’s important to remember that many factors may be contributing to these findings, and researchers are still unclear about whether COVID-19 directly causes sleep problems or whether it’s simply one part of a complex equation.įor example, many pre-existing risk factors for severe COVID-19 including severe obesity and respiratory disease are also thought to be common among those with sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea. In other words, poor sleep quality may persist months after an individual with severe COVID-19 is released from the hospital. What about sleep health and long COVID?įascinatingly, the percentage of people reporting poor sleep at 7 months was relatively similar to the immediate hospitalization of COVID-19. In this study, poor sleep quality was significantly more common – found in nearly 35 percent of individuals – when compared to anxiety (16 percent) or depression (20 percent). One study found that 80 percent of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors showed at least one lingering long COVID symptom at over 7 months post infection. At 6-months post-infection, about 30 percent of people report lingering sleep difficulties and around 25 percent report anxiety and/or depression.Īccording to a 2020 survey conducted by the UK Government’s Office for National Statistics in November, around 20 percent of COVID-19 survivors had symptoms that lasted for 5 weeks or longer, and 10 percent had symptoms that lasted for 12 weeks or longer. The rate of insomnia symptoms is approximately 30 percent for long-haulers, and diagnosed insomnia is seen in about 5 to 10 percent of survivors. So, how common are sleep problems among those with long COVID? While more research is needed to confirm preliminary findings, some studies have found that insomnia symptoms and sleep-related fatigue are even more frequent complaints than shortness of breath or depression in those with long-COVID. Beyond the growing death toll, recent evidence has shown that some COVID-19 survivors experience prolonged symptoms ranging from chronic cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cognitive dysfunction, psychological problems, extreme fatigue, and – perhaps most commonly – sleep issues. Globally, more than 4.5 million lives have been lost due to COVID-19 as of September 2021, with nearly 700,000 deaths in the United States alone. How Long COVID has impacted general health and wellness? In this article, we’ll roundup the most recent research on long-term COVID and sleep issues, as well as highlight how public health agencies are supporting the health and wellness of those suffering from long COVID. In fact, a recent article in the renowned journal The Lancet highlighted that long COVID is a modern medical challenge.Īs thousands of Americans begin or continue to experience the long-term effects of COVID-19, researchers are finding a common thread of symptoms among long-haulers: sleep problems. ![]() These long-term symptoms include a wide range of health problems – some mild, some severe – that are new, returning, or ongoing.ĭespite the extraordinary number of individuals reporting long COVID, the cause of long COVID and those at risk of developing it remains an enigma. Those with long-term symptoms have been dubbed the “long-haulers”, and the term “long COVID” is a general term used to describe signs and symptoms that persist long after the time of original infection (beyond approximately 3 to 4 weeks). Even those with no or mild symptoms of COVID-19 may experience what the CDC refers to as “post-COVID conditions”. While many who recover from COVID-19 only experience mild to moderate symptoms for several weeks, some studies suggest that nearly one-third of suffers may experience lingering symptoms even 6 months after infection. Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share via Email What is Long COVID?Īs the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, medical experts are beginning to understand and respond to those suffering from the long-term effects of the virus.
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