P001 Sleep disturbance in patients with long-term neurological sequelae of COVID-19

Abstract Introduction Post COVID-19 neurological sequelae (popularly termed “Long COVID”), which include chronic sleep disruption and “brain fog” are widespread; however, studies have not yet comprehensively evaluated the concurrent effects of these disruptions of neurocognitive function and their relationship to sleep disturbance. Methods Participants aged between 40-65, with no more than 2 cardiovascular risk factors were stratified into three groups of ten: Group 1 (pre-pandemic datasets), Group 2 (individuals recovered from COVID-19), and Group 3 (individuals diagnosed with Long COVID under the WHO criteria). Polysomnography (PSG), Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), participant surveys and neurocognitive testing, among other data, were collected. Results Control group 1 included more participants (70%) with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) compared to the Long COVID group, resulting in a markedly greater arousal index (ANOVA p=0.03), but no significant differences in percentage of Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep were observed between all three groups (ANOVA p=0.29). The Long COVID group displayed heightened daytime sleepiness, based on MSLT, Epworth Sleepiness Scores, and fatigue severity scores (Group 2: 28±10 vs Group 3:44±11, unpaired t-test p=0.01). Discussion Initial observations suggest sleep architecture (proportion of SWS and REM sleep) in Long COVID does not differ from controls, however the reduced sleep latency and elevated subjective fatigue suggest dysfunction of sleep in Long COVID which needs to be further explored.