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Published on: August 8, 2019
Night work, sleep disruption and long-COVID risk: a population-based cohort study
Kyriaki Papantoniou1, Ana Espinosa, Marianna Karachaliou
1Medical University of Vienna, Center for Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Spitalgasse 88, 1090, Vienna, Austria. kyriaki.papantoniou@meduniwien.ac.at.
Night shift work and chronic insomnia significantly increase the risk of developing long-COVID, with combined effects posing the highest danger. This highlights the importance of addressing sleep disturbances in post-SARS-CoV-2 infection care.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Circadian and sleep disruption are potential risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection severity.
- The impact of night shift work and sleep disturbances on long-COVID development requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine the association between night shift work, sleep disturbances, and the risk of developing long-COVID.
- To evaluate the independent and joint effects of night shift work and chronic insomnia on long-COVID risk.
Main Methods:
- A prospective population-based cohort study (COVICAT) in Catalonia, Spain (2021-2023).
- Assessment of night shift work and sleep characteristics, including chronic insomnia.
- Poisson regression analysis to determine risk, adjusted for confounders and stratified by sex, BMI, and chronotype.
Main Results:
- Night shift workers had an 88% higher risk of long-COVID compared to day workers.
- Chronic insomnia was associated with a 42% increased risk of long-COVID.
- Night workers with chronic insomnia faced a 2.7-fold higher risk of long-COVID compared to day workers without insomnia.
Conclusions:
- Night shift work and poor sleep are independent risk factors for long-COVID.
- The combined effect of night shift work and chronic insomnia significantly elevates long-COVID risk.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing circadian and sleep health in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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