[Bidirectional aspects of SARS-CoV-2 and sleep disorders]

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Sleep Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Context:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced significant challenges to public health, including widespread impacts on sleep patterns and quality.
• Disruptions in sleep duration and quality are increasingly recognized as factors influencing immune function and susceptibility to infections.
• Pandemic-related stressors have been linked to increased prevalence and exacerbation of sleep disorders.

Purpose:

• To review the intricate relationship between sleep (duration and quality), immune system function, and SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• To elucidate how compromised sleep may affect the development and progression of infections.
• To examine the bidirectional impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pandemic circumstances on sleep quality and disorders.

Summary:

• Short or poor sleep can negatively influence the onset and course of infections, including SARS-CoV-2.
• SARS-CoV-2 infection and pandemic-related factors demonstrably impair sleep quality, potentially initiating or worsening sleep disorders.
• Adequate and restorative sleep is crucial for bolstering immune defenses and positively influencing infection outcomes.

Impact:

• Highlights the critical role of sufficient sleep in maintaining immune resilience against infections like COVID-19.
• Underscores the pandemic's dual challenge and opportunity for sleep medicine to emphasize sleep's importance for health.
• Provides evidence for the necessity of addressing sleep disturbances in the context of infectious disease management and public health.