Sleep and cardiorespiratory function assessed by a smart bed over 10 weeks post COVID-19 infection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Infectious Diseases
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Limited data exists on physiological alterations following COVID-19 infection in non-hospitalized individuals.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for assessing long-term health impacts and recovery trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate physiological changes in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients using smart bed technology.
• To identify potential biomarkers or patterns associated with acute infection and recovery.

Main Methods:

• Smart beds were utilized to collect biometric data (sleep duration, movement, breathing rate) from 59 COVID-19 positive participants over 14 weeks.
• Data from 2020 (during infection) was compared to baseline data from 2019.
• Participants also completed surveys on demographics, health status, and symptom severity.

Main Results:

• During acute infection, increased sleep duration (64%), increased movement (51%), and increased breathing rate (64%) were observed.
• A significant subset (34%) exhibited paradoxical bradycardia (decreased heart rate with elevated breathing rate/fever), correlating with more severe symptoms.
• Smart beds effectively detected these physiological shifts.

Conclusions:

• Smart beds are a viable tool for monitoring physiological changes during COVID-19 infection in non-hospitalized individuals.
• Paradoxical bradycardia may serve as a predictor for delayed recovery from COVID-19.
• Further research is warranted to explore the long-term implications of these findings.