Sleep and circadian rhythm in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This commentary highlights the critical role of sleep as a public health issue, particularly during a stressful life period such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides evidence-based practical guidelines to manage sleep disturbances during this crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic and the imposed social confinement have produced significant stress, anxiety, and worries about health and the fear of being infected, jobs and financial problems, and uncertainty about the future. The incidence of sleep disturbances has also increased dramatically during this period. Aside from stress and anxiety, two other factors are likely to contribute to increased sleep disturbances during this crisis. First, alterations of our daily routines such as arising at a specific time, showing up at work, eating, exercising, and engaging in social and leisure activities at relatively fixed times are all important timekeepers for our sleep-wake cycles to remain synchronized with the day (light) and night (dark) cycles. Alterations of these timekeepers, combined with reduced daylight exposure, also essential to keep our biological clock synchronized, are likely to disrupt sleep and circadian rhythms. Sleep plays a fundamental role for mental and physical health, and adequate sleep duration and quality are essential for coping with major life events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health education is warranted to keep the population well informed about the importance of sleep and healthy sleep practices in order to cope with the pandemic and prevent or minimize long-term adverse outcomes.

Elderly as a High-risk Group during COVID-19 Pandemic: Effect of Circadian Misalignment, Sleep Dysregulation and Melatonin Administration

“…Forced lockdown such as during the current pandemic disrupts timing and duration of exposure to ambient light, the most important environmental Zeitgeber [16]. The use of mobile phones, tablets, and computers to watch the news, binge-watching of web series, and connecting on social media leads to excessive screen time in evening hours [17]. The blue light emitted from screens suppresses the natural production of melatonin at night.…”

Changes in sleep schedule and chronotype due to COVID-19 restrictions and home office

“…The uncertain situation and the governmental measures resulted in changes in sleep and sleep timing around the globe. Some research groups showed increasing prevalence of sleep problems (insomnia, sleep loss, poor sleep quality) in healthcare workers and the general population [5][6][7][8][9], while others showed an improvement of sleep health. In India, China, and Italy, people slept later and longer [2,7,10,11].…”

“…It is important to pay attention to sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic because sleep plays a major part in sustainable health. Good night sleep (consisting of sleep duration/quality and timing) is essential to build resilience and cope with the primary and secondary effects of disease [ 8 ]. We hypothesized that sleep timing and therefore overall sleep in evening-oriented people during the changed circumstances is more in line with their biological needs and thus beneficial to health.…”

Physical and psychological effects related to food habits and lifestyle changes derived from Covid-19 home confinement Spanish population.

“…This effect may be due to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 since 18.7% and 21.6% of the Spanish population have been potentially diagnosed of depression and anxiety respectively [45]. In addition, the isolation situation causes less time spent outdoors and exposure to sunlight is a determining factor in the regulation of internal circadian rhythms, fundamental to the sleep pattern [46]. Likewise, sleep disruption was associated with a higher BMI.…”