New Study Shows Insomnia More Common in COVID-19 Survivors

https://www.sleepfoundation.org ^ | Updated October 27, 2021 | Written by Sarah Shoen

[Red Badger]

COVID-19 infection may have a large neurological and psychiatric impact on as many as one-third of its survivors.

A study published by Lancet Psychiatry finds that insomnia may be one of the most common neurological and psychiatric outcomes from COVID-19. Researchers evaluated the electronic health records of TriNetX, a global health research network, for approximately 236,000 patients, 10 years of age and older, who tested positive for COVID-19 from January 20, 2020 and were recorded as still alive on December 13, 2020 (see table for baseline characteristics). There was an estimated incidence of 14 neurological and psychiatric outcomes in the 6 months following a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, which included (but are not limited to) brain hemorrhage, stroke, muscle disease, dementia, mental health disorders, and insomnia. COVID-19 infection group’s outcomes were compared with flu and other respiratory tract infection groups’ outcomes.

Baseline Characteristics

Characteristics All Patients

Cohort size 236,379 (100.0%)

Age range, years 26.3-65.7

Sex

Male 104,015 (44.0%)

Female 131,460 (55.6%)

Other 904 (0.4%)

Race

White 135,143 (57.2%)

Black, African-American 44,458 (18.8%)

Unknown 48,085 (20.3%)

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 37,772 (16.0%)

Not Hispanic or Latino 134,075 (56.7%)

Unknown 64,532 (27.3%)

Researchers found that approximately 34% of their COVID patient population experienced at least 1 of the 14 neurological and/or psychiatric outcomes. While 5.4% of all patients in the study experienced insomnia, the number only increased with infection severity and need for hospitalization. With only 5.2% of non-hospitalized patients experiencing insomnia, the number jumps significantly upon hospital-entry to 6% and again to 7.5% and 10% for Intensive-Therapy-Unit–admitted and encephalopathy patients, respectively. It should be noted, this trend—an escalation in incidence with increased infection severity—was seen throughout the patient population despite neurological or psychiatric outcomes experienced.

Researchers speculate that some potential reasons for the neurological attack is viral invasion of the central nervous system, blood clotting disorders, and/or the toll immune response can take on our nervous system. The risks for these particular diagnoses may be small, but spread across a population can prove to have massive repercussions.

This study is further shedding light on the long-term implications COVID-19 will leave in its wake, plus the need for a more robust healthcare system to meet the needs of its population.

[UNGN]

They lie awake at night thinking up ways to get back at Fauci

[Shery]

Insomnia, pain in the neck, shoulder & back, headaches and mild depression due to the whole list above. But, I started taking 2 10 mg capsules of Melatonin and now I take my Quercitin with my thyroid medicine in the middle of the night and the symptoms are improving. All of them!

[Red Badger]

I was never bedridden or debilitated. Been able to function normally with Bayer Aspirin, Benadryl, 5000IU of D3 and multi vitamins, lots of fluids and fresh fruits.................

[catnipman]

“While 5.4% of all patients in the study experienced insomnia”

since 30% of the general population has short-term insomnia and 10% has long-term insomnia, looks to me like covid is a pretty good CURE for insomnia ...

[John Milner]

Yeah, I’m guessing COVID non-survivors are not having too many insomnia issues.

Who writes these headlines?

[Red Badger]

LOL!...............