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Effects of sleep quality on the risk of various long COVID symptoms among older adults following infection: an observational study.

Authors :
Du M
Yang P
Li M
Yu X
Wang S
Li T
Huang C
Liu M
Song C
Liu J
Source :
BMC geriatrics [BMC Geriatr] 2025 Jan 09; Vol. 25 (1), pp. 20. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jan 09.
Publication Year :
2025

Abstract

Background: The long-term sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its recovery have becoming significant public health concerns. Therefore, this study aimed to enhance the limited evidence regarding the relationship between sleep quality on long COVID among the older population aged 60 years or old.<br />Methods: Our study included 4,781 COVID-19 patients enrolled from April to May 2023, based on the Peking University Health Cohort. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. Long COVID was evaluated by well-trained health professionals through patients' self-reported symptoms. Binary logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).<br />Results: The prevalence of long COVID among older adults was 57.4% (2,743/4,781). Specifically, the prevalence of general symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and neurological and psychiatric symptoms was 47.7% (2,282/4,781), 3.4% (163/4,781), 35.2% (1683/4,781), 8.7% (416/4,781) and 5.8% (279/4,781), respectively. For each one-point increase in PSQI scores, the risk of long COVID, general symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and neurological and psychiatric symptoms increased by 3% (95% CI: 1.01, 1.06), 3% (95% CI: 1.01, 1.06), 7% (95% CI: 1.01, 1.13), 11% (95% CI: 1.07, 1.15), and 20% (95% CI: 1.15, 1.25), respectively. In multivariate models, compared with good sleepers, COVID-19 patients with poor sleep quality exhibited an increased risk of general symptoms (aOR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.33), cardiovascular symptoms (aOR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.14), gastrointestinal symptoms (aOR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.61, 2.54), and neurological and psychiatric symptoms (aOR = 2.57; 95% CI = 1.96, 3.37).<br />Conclusions: Our findings indicate that poor sleep quality is related to various manifestations of long COVID in older populations. A comprehensive assessment and multidisciplinary management of sleep health and long COVID may be essential to ensure healthy aging in the future.<br />Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the institutional review boards at Peking University (IRB00001052-21126). All participants had oral informed consent at the time of participation. The research has been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.<br /> (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1471-2318
Volume :
25
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
BMC geriatrics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39789478
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05675-5