P083 Longitudinal changes in the sleep of patients of a multidisciplinary sleep clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Introduction This study aimed to describe longitudinal changes of sleep in adult patients at a multidisciplinary sleep clinic throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Participants completed six self-report online surveys between October 2020 (during increased COVID-19 restrictions) and March 2022 (after easing of restrictions). Results Of 746 patients invited to participate in this study, 38 completed the initial and final surveys (mean age 53.9 years, range 21-83, 63.2% female). No participants had contracted COVID-19 at study commencement but 3 (7.9%) had been diagnosed with COVID-19 by the end of the study. In late 2020, 10 participants (26.3%) described reduced sleep quantity whilst 15 (39.5%) had worse sleep quality than pre-pandemic. Changes in dreams were reported by 13 participants (34.2%). In early 2022, 10 participants (26.3%) described worse sleep whereas 13 (34.2%) reported unaltered sleep and 3 (7.9%) experienced better sleep than pre-pandemic. Remaining patients were uncertain if their sleep had changed. No significant changes were detected in Insomnia Severity Index scores (initial survey mean 13.07, final survey mean 12.61, mean difference -0.47 [95%CI -2.29, 1.34], p=0.60) or PROMIS Sleep-Related Impairment 8a T-scores (initial survey mean 56.07, final survey mean 54.23, mean difference -1.84 [95%CI -4.12, 0.43], p=0.11). Discussion 42% of patients experienced deterioration in sleep quantity and/or quality within the first year of the pandemic. Despite the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, there was no significant change in symptoms of insomnia and sleep-related impairment, and a quarter of patients reported that their sleep remained worse compared with before the pandemic.