Recalde, Bettsy Y.

AbstractStudy ObjectivesThis study assessed changes in sleep quality before and after the peak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in community dwellers enrolled in the Atahualpa Project.MethodsAtahualpa residents aged ≥40 years were eligible if they had a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) 9 months before the pandemic and a lateral flow-based test for identification of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the peak of the pandemic. Six months later, individuals completed a follow-up PSQI. The independent relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and deterioration in sleep quality was assessed by fitting logistic mixed models for longitudinal data.ResultsOf 639 participants (mean age at baseline: 59 ± 12.8 years), 325 (51%) had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A total of 185 (29%) individuals at baseline and 311 (49%) at follow-up were poor sleepers (p < 0.001). Mixed logistic regression models demonstrated a significant increase in poor sleepers at follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 2.85; 95% CI: 2.16 to 3.75), which was more marked among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive subjects (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 2.48 to 5.81). The adjusted proportion of poor sleepers increased from 29% to 56.2% (95% CI: 50.9% to 61.6%) among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals, but only to 40.7% (95% CI: 35.3% to 46.1%) in their seronegative counterparts (p < 0.001). Likewise, progression from a good to a poor sleeper status was higher among seropositive individuals than in their seronegative counterparts (38.1% vs 22.3%; p < 0.001), after adjusting for relevant covariates.ConclusionsThis study shows a deleterious effect of SARS-CoV-2 in sleep quality. An effect of SARS-CoV-2 in disrupting sleep-related pathways cannot be ruled out.Trial registrationThe Atahualpa Project has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; the identifier number is NCT01627600, and the date was: 10/02/2012 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01627600?cond=Atahualpa&draw=2&rank=1). The Sleep Disorders substudy has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; the identifier number is NCT01877616, and the date was: 06/13/2013 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01877616?cond=Atahualpa&draw=2&rank=4).

Background Inability to encircle the neck by hands (neck grasp) has been proposed as an indicator of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that would be useful for recognition of candidates for polysomnography (PSG). We assessed the value of neck grasp for predicting OSA in community-dwelling older adults of Amerindian ancestry. Methods Neck grasp was evaluated in individuals aged ≥60 years undergoing PSG. The association between neck grasp and OSA was assessed by logistic regression models adjusted for relevant covariates. Mediation analysis was used to establish the proportion of the effect of the association between neck grasp and OSA, which is mediated by the neck circumference (a well-known OSA biomarker). Receiver operator characteristics curve analysis was used to estimate diagnostic accuracy of neck grasp for predicting OSA. Results Of 201 individuals undergoing PSG, 167 (83%) had the neck grasp test. The remaining 34 could not perform the test because of different factors. Neck grasp was positive in 127 (76%) cases, and 114 (68%) individuals had OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥5). Multivariate logistic regression models disclosed a significant association between neck grasp and OSA. The neck circumference was the single covariate remaining independently significant in these models. Neck grasp was not efficient at predicting OSA (sensitivity: 83.3%, specificity: 39.6%, positive predictive value: 0.75 and negative predictive value: 0.53). The area under the curve disclosed only a moderate predictive capability (61.5%) of neck grasp. Conclusion Results do not support the use of neck grasp as an independent predictor of OSA in the study population.