Does Sars-Cov-2 threaten our dreams? Effect of quarantine on sleep quality and body mass index

Abstract

Background: COVID 19-related quarantine led to a sudden and radical lifestyle changes, in particular in eating habits. Objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of quarantine on sleep quality (SQ) and body mass index (BMI), and if change in SQ was related to working modalities. Materials: We enrolled 121 adults (age 44.9 ± 13.3 years and 35.5% males). Anthropometric parameters, working modalities and physical activity were studied. Sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. At baseline, the enrolled subjects were assessed in outpatient clinic and after 40 days of quarantine/ lockdown by phone interview. Results: Overall, 49.6% of the subjects were good sleepers (PSQI < 5) at the baseline and significantly decreased after quarantine (p < 0.001). In detail, sleep onset latency (p < 0.001), sleep efficiency (p = 0.03), sleep disturbances (p < 0.001), and daytime dysfunction (p < 0.001) significantly worsened. There was also a significant increase in BMI values in normal weight (p = 0.023), in subjects grade I (p = 0.027) and II obesity (p = 0.020). In all cohort, physical activity was significantly decreased (p = 0.004). However, analyzing the data according gender difference, males significantly decreased physical activity as well as females in which there was only a trend without reaching statistical significance (53.5% vs 25.6%; p = 0.015 and 50.0% vs 35.9%, p = 0.106; in males and females, respectively). In addition, smart working activity resulted in a significant worsening of SQ, particularly in males (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Quarantine was associated to a worsening of SQ, particularly in males doing smart working, and to an increase in BMI values.

Poor Sleep during the First Peak of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In Italy, cross-sectional investigations have suggested that while the number of hours spent in bed might have increased during lockdown [ 2 ], many individuals reported insomnia (43%) [ 19 ] and poor sleep quality (57%) [ 9 ]. Similar percentages of sleep deterioration (48%) were also shown in the UK [ 20 ], and a longitudinal study conducted in Italy confirmed the detrimental effects of the 40-day lockdown on all the parameters of the Sleep Quality Index [ 21 ], except for sleep duration [ 22 ]. Our cohort seems to confirm that sleep quality deteriorated during lockdown, as among those individuals who experienced a change in their sleep quality, 85.8% defined their sleep as poor.…”

Parents’ Perception of Food Insecurity and of Its Effects on Their Children in Italy Six Months after the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak

“…An increase in children’s body weight was declared by 32% of the respondents. Other authors reported similar changes both in pediatric [ 57 ] and in adult [ 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ] populations since the beginning of the restrictions due to the pandemic. A study analyzing the Google Trends covering a timeframe from June 2019 to April 2020 revealed that people have replaced outdoor activities with sedentary indoor behaviors [ 62 ].…”

<p>COVID-19 and Obesity: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Treatment</p>

“…These changes in lifestyle render weight gain and increase the risk of developing obesity. 3,4 Here we reviewed the impact of obesity in COVID- 19. This paper will provide a comprehensive understanding on the role of obesity in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and provide suggestions on the clinical management of COVID-19 in obese patients.…”