4 research outputs found
Early impact on sleep and mental health during the mandatory social isolation of COVID-19 outbreak: an obser vational cross-sectional study carried out in Argentina
Introduction: The mandatory social isolation (MSI) due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19 in the world produced many changes in sleep and different areas of mental health. Objectives: To evaluate the early effects of MSI on sleep, anxiety, and depression in Argentina.
Material and Methods: An anonymous observational cross-sectional web-based study was distributed throughout the country and was completed by 2,594 respondents to analyze demographic information, quality of sleep, REM sleep-related events, depressive, and anxiety symptoms.
Results: The study revealed that 53, 21, 22, 23, and 16% of people surveyed were poor sleepers, had dream-related behaviors, nightmares, depression, and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed a positive correlation between anxiety, being a poor sleeper, and having nightmares.
Conclusion: We identified the early effects of MSI on sleep quality, dreaming activity, anxiety, and depression in Argentina during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our findings can be used to formulate sleep and psychological interventions to improve mental health during the pandemic and post-pandemic times
Pre-pandemic melatonin treatment for sleep disorders and COVID-19 infection: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Resumen:
La melatonina es una medicación segura que tiene múltiples usos en medicina del sueño para el tratamiento
de insomnios, diferentes alteraciones del ritmo circadiano y trastorno del comportamiento durante el sueño
REM. Dado que durante la pandemia por COVID 19 se propusieron sus propiedades antiinflamatorias como
coadyuvante, nuestro objetivo fue evaluar los antecedentes de infección por COVID-19 y requerimiento de
internación hospitalaria en un grupo de pacientes adultos tratados previamente al inicio de la pandemia con
melatonina por diversos trastornos del sueño. Material y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal, retrospectivo.
Se analizaron datos de una población cerrada de un hospital universitario de pacientes adultos tratados con
melatonina por diversos trastornos del sueño, hasta el inicio de la pandemia. Se analizaron variables demográficas, variables relacionadas con melatonina: dosis indicada, tiempo de tratamiento. Se los reevaluó durante
el período de pandemia, por tele-consulta programada o telefónicamente, sobre diagnóstico, requerimiento
de internación, variables relacionadas a infección por COVID 19 en forma previa a vacunación específica. Se
describieron a las variables categóricas con frecuencias relativas y absolutas. Resultados: N=110 pacientes.
Rango de edad= 40-96 años (media= 71 años ± 9,9), adultos mayores >65 años: N =87 (79,1%). Se registró
infección por COVID 19 en 15 pacientes (13,5%) con requerimiento de internación en 5 de los infectados,
sólo uno de ellos con neumonía grave. No se registraron óbitos por causa de COVID 19. No hubo diferencias
entre infectados vs. no infectados en edad (p=0,74), índice de masa corporal (p=0,65) o dosis de melatonina
(p=0,10). El rango de dosis de melatonina fue 3-150 mg/día (media=46,33 ± 34,1) recibiendo los adultos mayores una dosis media de 50,3 ±35,6. El 75.5% de los pacientes fueron tratados durante de doce meses con
esta droga. Conclusión: Encontramos que 13.5% de pacientes tratados previamente con melatonina por diversos trastornos del sueño se infectaron por COVID-19, requiriendo internación con posterior alta médica
un tercio de ellos. La tasa de letalidad en adultos mayores en agosto 2020 según los registros nacionales era
de 10,5%. Ningún paciente tratado con melatonina falleció por dicha causa en esta muestra. No encontramos
diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a dosis de melatonina indicada, edad o índice de masa
corporal, al comparar los infectados con los no infectados. Los pacientes en general, eran mayoritariamente
adultos mayores, tratados con dosis media mayor a 40 mg/día de melatonina por diversos trastornos del sueño, principalmente por quejas de insomnio, durante más de 12 meses. Los resultados son compatibles con un
posible efecto preventivo de la melatonina en la pandemia COVID 19.Abtract:
Melatonin is a safe medication with multiple uses in sleep medicine for the treatment of circadian rhythm disorders,
insomnia, and REM sleep behavior disorder. In view that melatonin has been recommended as an adjuvant treatment
in COVID 19 pandemic mainly due to its anti-inflammatory properties, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the history of COVID-19 infection and the requirement of hospitalization in a group of adult patients previously
treated with melatonin for various sleep disorders. Material and methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study
of data from a closed population of 110 adult patients at a University Hospital treated with melatonin for various
sleep disorders, analyzed until the onset of COVID 19 pandemic. Demographic and melatonin-related variables (dose,
treatment time) were analyzed and were reevaluated during the pandemic period, by scheduled tele-consultation
regarding diagnosis, hospitalization requirements, variables related to COVID 19 infection prior to specific vaccination.
Categorical variables were described as relative and absolute frequencies. Results: N = 110 patients. Age range = 40-
96 years (mean = 71 years ± 9.9), older adults> 65 years: N =87 (79,1%). COVID 19 infection was recorded in 15
patients (13.5%) requiring hospitalization in 5 of those infected, only one of them with severe pneumonia. There were
no deaths due to COVID 19. There were no differences between infected vs. uninfected in age (p = 0.74), body mass
index (p = 0.65) or melatonin dose (p = 0.10). The melatonin dose range was 3-150 mg / day (mean = 46.33 ± 34.1),
older adults receiving a mean dose of 50,3 ± 35,6. The 75.5% of the patients were treated for at least 12 months with
melatonin. Conclusion: We found that 13.5% of patients previously treated with melatonin for various sleep disorders
were infected by COVID-19, requiring hospitalization with subsequent medical discharge one third of them. According
to national records the lethality rate in older adults in August 2020 was 10.5%. No patient treated with melatonin died
for this cause in this sample. We did not find statistically significant differences in terms of indicated melatonin dose,
age or body mass index, when comparing those infected with those not infected. The patients in general were mostly
older adults, treated with a mean dose greater than 40 mg / day of melatonin for various sleep disorders, mainly for
complaints of insomnia, for more than 12 months. The results are consistent with a possible preventive effect of melatonin in the COVID 19 pandemic