By the end of 2022, over 650 million COVID-19 infections had been reported to the World Health Organization, and scientists say the impact of COVID goes beyond its current symptoms, affecting sleep quality and dreams. The latest analysis, which is a review of all currently available scientific studies, estimates that 52 percent of people who contract COVID suffer from sleep disorders, according to a report from "Science Alert."
Concerningly, according to the report, sleep problems sometimes persist even after recovery from the infection. A study in China found that 26 percent of individuals who were hospitalized due to COVID displayed symptoms of insomnia two weeks after being discharged. An American study showed that people who contracted COVID were more likely than those who never had the virus to experience difficulty sleeping.
While most people recover from COVID quickly, some continue to experience long-term symptoms. Those suffering from long COVID appear to be significantly more likely to encounter ongoing sleep problems. A 2021 survey of over 3,000 individuals with long COVID found that nearly 80 percent reported sleep issues, most commonly insomnia. The loss of deep sleep is particularly concerning, as this type of sleep reduces feelings of fatigue and enhances focus and memory. A lack of deep sleep may be partially responsible for the "brain fog" commonly reported during and after COVID.
The International COVID Sleep Study, a global research project involving sleep scientists from 14 countries, recently released its findings on dreaming. The study surveyed infected and non-infected participants about their dreams. Both groups reported having more dreams after the pandemic began compared to before. Interestingly, infected participants experienced more nightmares than non-infected participants, with no difference between the groups prior to the pandemic.
There is no simple explanation as to why contracting COVID might lead to an increase in nightmares, but mental health may play a role again, as poor mental health is often accompanied by nightmares. The international sleep study team found that the group infected with COVID exhibited more symptoms of anxiety and depression.
