0302 Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep pattern of a Brazilian population sample

Abstract

Abstract Introduction As of late 2019, a new viral variant that causes respiratory infection has concerned humanity: SARS-CoV-2. The following year, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization. The spread of the virus across country borders led to the implementation of security measures to contain new infections. The confinement during the pandemic helped to minimize new infections, but it affected people's mental health, including sleep parameters. This study evaluated the impact of the pandemic and social isolation on sleep parameters, including sleep quality and hygiene, in a sample of the Brazilian population. Methods An online questionnaire on the Google Docs platform was sent to all participants who agreed to contribute to the study, constituting a convenience sample. The questionnaire consisted of 8 parts: written consent; socio-demographic characteristics; assessment of quarantine status, COVID-19 infection, and other health complaints; general sleep evaluation; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Insomnia Severity Index (ISI); Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI); closing remarks. All questions were presented in Portuguese and participants had to answer them considering 2 different contexts: before and during the pandemic. PSQI and ISI categorical data from the two periods were evaluated using the McNemar-Bowker test. To evaluate the effects of the pandemic on questionnaire scores, sleep efficiency and total sleep duration (TSD), generalized estimating equations models were used. Age and quarantine time were covariates in the model. Results The final sample comprised 1,109 individuals. During the pandemic, it was observed an increase in sleep efficiency (β=3.537; p=0.002) and in the TSD (β=29.212; p=0.002). Yet, during the pandemic there was an elevation in the PSQI score (β=4.196; p< 0.001) and in the ISI score (β=–6.952; p< 0.001). For this last, there was a statistical significance when considering the interaction between life context and gender, in which women during the pandemic had higher ISI scores than men before the pandemic (β=–1.877; p< 0.001). A decrease in the SHI score was reported during the pandemic (β=–6.768; p< 0.001). Conclusion An increase in sleep efficiency, total sleep time and SHI score was reported in the sample during the pandemic, although insomnia symptoms and sleep quality worsened. Support (if any)