Long Term Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Sleep and Mental Health

Abstract

Aim : To determine the long term impact of covid-19 infection on sleep and mental health. Study design: Cross-sectional study Place and duration of study: Department of Psychiatry, Ghulam Mohammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur from 1st April 2021 to 30th September 2021. Methodology: Fifty patients were enrolled after their positivity confirmation of coronavirus-19 through nasal swab test polymerase chain reaction. Categorization was done on the basis of disease severity. HRCT was performed for complete chest examination and grading of covid-19. Other laboratory tests were also done for day to day assessment of patient. Patients after their recovery were asked to follow up after six months of their disease. The demographic, gender, clinical history and clinical record were documented on a well-structured questionnaire. Co-morbidities associated were also recorded. Sleep and mental health were assessed by Pittsburgh sleep quality index. This assessment tool is used to identify sleep disturbances. The scoring techniques use seven sub scores ranging between 0-3. Results: The mean age was 49.56±12.2 years with almost equal males and females. In 66% of the participants of severe group and critical group were suffering from poor sleep quality followed by non severe group. Phobic anxieties were more common in non-severe and severe cases while paranoid ideation was normal in severe cases but at borderline in critical cases. Paranoid ideation was more common in married as well as single patients. Conclusion: Corona virus badly influences normal sleep cycle and also leads towards various mental and psychological disorders. Keywords: Pittsburgh sleep quality index; COVID-19; Disease severity; Psychological disturbance