Respiratory function and sleep parameters in adults following recovery from acute COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on lung function and sleep in otherwise healthy individuals has been subject to a limited number of studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on pulmonary function and sleep in adults. Participants, 50-85 years old, who had recovered from COVID-19 (COVID-19 group: n=48) and those without history of COVID-19 (control group: n=28) underwent pulmonary function assessment (Forced Vital Capacity, FVC, and Slow Vital Capacity, SVC) using spirometry. Sleep and circadian variables were measured objectively with wrist-worn actigraphy for seven days. Subjective sleep of participants was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). There were no significant differences in age (60±6 vs 62±6 years), BMI (26.30±4.25 vs 26.48±3.60 kg/m2), or pulmonary function (FVC, 4.02± 1.04 vs 3.80 ± 0.98 L, p=0.36; and SVC, 3.82±1.09 vs 3.89±0.92 L, p=0.76) between COVID-19 and control groups. The COVID-19 group had significantly reduced sleep efficiency (0.87±0.04 vs 0.91±0.04, p<0.01), increased sleep disturbance (awakenings, 1.70±1.02 vs 1.15±1.15, p<0.01; and wakefulness after sleep onset, 35:05±25:37 vs 20:02±12:48 min, p=0.01) and PSQI score (5.19±2.88 vs 3.93±2.89, p=0.01), compared to the control group. Individuals with history of COVID-19 demonstrate reduced sleep quality compared to a non-COVID-19 control group.