Association between post-COVID-19 sleep disturbance and neurocognitive function: a comparative study based on...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Sleep disturbance and cognitive decline are prevalent in COVID-19 survivors.
• Limited research exists on the specific impact of post-COVID-19 sleep disturbance (PCSD) on neurocognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the effect of PCSD on neurocognitive performance.
• To identify risk factors associated with worsened cognitive outcomes in individuals with PCSD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, web-based study involving 8692 COVID-19 survivors.
• Neurocognitive function assessed using the Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA) and Number Ordering Test (NOT).
• Propensity score matching (PSM) used to control for confounding variables.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of COVID-19 survivors reported sleep disturbances.
• PCSD was significantly associated with poorer performance on ICA and NOT.
• Factors like underlying disease, infection severity, and cognitive complaints correlated with worsened neurocognition.

Conclusions:

• Post-COVID-19 sleep disturbance negatively impacts neurocognitive function.
• Aging, minority ethnicity, and lower education are independent risk factors for cognitive decline in PCSD patients.
• Preventive and therapeutic strategies are needed to mitigate PCSD's adverse effects on cognition.