Researchers from Phenikaa University in Vietnam (Phenikaa University) found that COVID-19 can cause insomnia and generally reduce sleep quality. The results are published in Frontiers in Public Health.

The study involved 1056 people over the age of 18 who had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19. It is noted that the subjects never reported having insomnia or any psychiatric disorders. Using questionnaires, the researchers collected information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the volunteers, such as age and gender. They also obtained data on the duration and severity of COVID-19 the subjects had undergone and the presence of chronic diseases.

To assess the impact of COVID-19 on nighttime rest, the researchers asked volunteers to compare their sleep quality (duration, number of night wakings, ease of falling asleep) during the last two weeks before and after the infection.

It turned out that 76.1% of those surveyed developed insomnia after suffering COVID-19. About 23% of those who reported worsening sleep quality stated that the sleep disorder made them seriously uncomfortable. Half of the respondents shared that they began waking up more often during the night. Another third reported having difficulty falling asleep and shortened sleep duration.