Poor Sleep Quality in post-COVID-19 – Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire

Abstract

Since the global outbreak of  COVID-19, knowledge about the long-term effects of the disease has grown rapidly. One of the symptoms of post- COVID-19 condition is sleep disturbance. This study aims to analyse the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on sleep quality, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI), administered by phone, in a group of 82 patients, who were hospitalised with COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2021 in two hospital units in Romania. The demographics data were retrospectively collected from patients charts. In addition to the PSQI questionnaire, health-related questions, such as post-COVID-19 symptoms were also asked. The overall results showed that sleep quality was significantly affected in post COVID-19 patients, as indicated by a PSQI score  ≥ 5. This follow-up questionnaire, conducted three years later shows the persistence of poor sleep quality in these patients. Excessive worry about the progression of the pandemic, experiencing an unfamiliar disease, financial difficulties and social problems contributed to sleep impairment. Poor sleep quality can be an important symptom of various sleep and medical disorders. Since sleep quality impacts daytime functioning it remains an important clinical construct.