Frontiers in Psychology (May 2024)

Poor sleep quality may trigger cognitive deficits after recovery from COVID-19

  • A. Carnes-Vendrell,
  • G. Piñol-Ripoll,
  • M. Ariza,
  • N. Cano,
  • N. Cano,
  • B. Segura,
  • B. Segura,
  • B. Segura,
  • B. Segura,
  • C. Junque,
  • C. Junque,
  • C. Junque,
  • C. Junque,
  • J. Béjar,
  • C. Barrue,
  • M. Garolera,
  • M. Garolera,
  • Nautilus Project Collaborative Group,
  • Vanesa Arauzo,
  • Jose A. Bernia,
  • Marta Balague-Marmaña,
  • Berta Valles-Pauls,
  • Jesús Caballero,
  • Ester Gonzalez-Aguado,
  • Carme Tayó-Juli,
  • Eva Forcadell-Ferreres,
  • Silvia Reverte-Vilarroya,
  • Susanna Forné,
  • Anna Bartes-Plans,
  • Jordina Muñoz-Padros,
  • Jose A. Muñoz-Moreno,
  • Anna Prats-Paris,
  • Inmaculada Rico,
  • Nuria Sabé,
  • Marta Almeria,
  • Laura Casas,
  • Maria José Ciudad,
  • Anna Ferré,
  • Tamar Garzon,
  • Manuela Lozano,
  • Marta Cullell,
  • Sonia Vega,
  • Sílvia Alsina,
  • Maria J. Maldonado-Belmonte,
  • Susana Vazquez-Rivera,
  • Eva Baillès,
  • Sandra Navarro,
  • Ayoze González Hernández,
  • Yaiza Molina,
  • Victoria Olive,
  • Silvia Cañizares

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1382875
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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ObjectiveIn the present study, we aimed to assess the cognition of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) participants in relation to their subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) and to analyse possible moderators of this effect, such as quality of life (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, EQ-5D), fatigue (Chadler Fatigue Questionnaire, CFQ), cognitive reserve (Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire, CRC), and subjective cognitive complaints (Memory Failures of Everyday Questionnaire, MFE-30).MethodsWe included 373 individuals with PCC and 126 healthy controls (HCs) from the NAUTILUS Project (NCT05307549 and NCT05307575) who were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and various questionnaires.ResultsWe found that PCC participants with poor sleep quality had a 4.3% greater risk of immediate verbal memory deficits than those with good sleep quality, as indicated by the greater odds ratio (OR) of 1.043 and confidence interval (CI) of 1.023–1.063. Additionally, their risk of immediate verbal memory disorders was multiplied by 2.4 when their EQ-5D score was low (OR 0.33; CI 0.145–0.748), and they had a lower risk of delayed visual memory deficits with a greater CRC (OR 0.963; CI 0.929–0.999). With respect to processing speed, PCC participants with poor sleep quality had a 6.7% greater risk of deficits as the MFE increased (OR 1.059; CI 1.024–1.096), and the risk of slowed processing speed tripled with a lower EQ-5D (OR 0.021; CI 0.003–0.141).ConclusionThese results indicate that poor subjective sleep quality is a potential trigger for cognitive deficits. Therapeutic strategies to maximize sleep quality could include reducing sleep disturbances and perhaps cognitive impairment in PCC individuals.

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