Sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

• Published in: Sleep medicine reviews Vol. 62; p. 101591
• Main Authors: Jahrami, Haitham A., Alhaj, Omar A., Humood, Ali M., Alenezi, Ahmad F., Fekih-Romdhane, Feten, AlRasheed, Maha M., Saif, Zahra Q., Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi, Pandi-Perumal, Seithikurippu R., BaHammam, Ahmed S., Vitiello, Michael V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Adolescent; Bayes Theorem; Child; Circadian rhythm; Clinical Review; Communicable Disease Control; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Humans; Insomnia; Pandemic; Pandemics; Sleep; Sleep disorder; Sleep disturbance; Sleep hygiene; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep disturbance; Sleep disorder; Pandemic; MeSH; Circadian rhythm; AIS; NOS; Decimal; Insomnia; Sleep hygiene; Prisma; GOSH; IPD; ISI; PSQI; DOI
• ISSN: 1087-0792; 1532-2955
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101591

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the extent of sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eleven databases and six preprint repositories were searched for the period from November 1, 2019, to July 15, 2021. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used to develop random-effect meta-analyses. Two hundred and fifty studies comprising 493,475 participants from 49 countries were included. During COVID-19, the estimated global prevalence of sleep disturbances was 40.49% [37.56; 43.48%]. Bayesian meta-analysis revealed an odds of 0.68 [0.59; 0.77] which translates to a rate of approximately 41%. This provides reassurance that the estimated rate using classical meta-analysis is robust. Six major populations were identified; the estimated prevalence of sleep problem was 52.39% [41.69; 62.88%] among patients infected with COVID-19, 45.96% [36.90; 55.30%] among children and adolescents, 42.47% [37.95; 47.12%] among healthcare workers, 41.50% [32.98; 50.56%] among special populations with healthcare needs, 41.16% [28.76; 54.79%] among university students, and 36.73% [32.32; 41.38%] among the general population. Sleep disturbances were higher during lockdown compared to no lockdown, 42.49% versus 37.97%. Four in every ten individuals reported a sleep problem during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients infected with the disease, children, and adolescents appeared to be the most affected groups.