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Sleep for COVID-19: real-time meta analysis of 16 studies

@CovidAnalysis, November 2024, Version 19V19
 
0 0.5 1 1.5+ All studies 31% 16 429,222 Improvement, Studies, Patients Relative Risk Mortality 27% 4 382,739 Hospitalization 25% 3 115,431 Cases 14% 7 40,229 Peer-reviewed 29% 15 427,411 Sleep for COVID-19 c19early.org November 2024 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol
Abstract
Statistically significant lower risk is seen for mortality, hospitalization, and cases. 13 studies from 13 independent teams in 6 countries show significant improvements.
Meta analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 31% [23‑39%] lower risk. Results are similar for peer-reviewed studies.
Results are very robust — in exclusion sensitivity analysis 14 of 16 studies must be excluded to avoid finding statistically significant efficacy in pooled analysis.
0 0.5 1 1.5+ All studies 31% 16 429,222 Improvement, Studies, Patients Relative Risk Mortality 27% 4 382,739 Hospitalization 25% 3 115,431 Cases 14% 7 40,229 Peer-reviewed 29% 15 427,411 Sleep for COVID-19 c19early.org November 2024 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol
Studies analyze sleep quality before infection, and use different definitions of sleep quality.
No treatment or intervention is 100% effective. All practical, effective, and safe means should be used based on risk/benefit analysis.
All data to reproduce this paper and sources are in the appendix. Zhou et al. present another meta analysis for sleep quality, showing significant improvements for mortality, hospitalization, cases, and long COVID with higher quality sleep.
Evolution of COVID-19 clinical evidence Meta analysis results over time Sleep p=0.00000000084 Acetaminophen p=0.00000029 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Lowerrisk Higherrisk c19early.org November 2024 100% 50% 0% -50%
Sleep for COVID-19 — Highlights
Good quality sleep reduces risk with very high confidence for mortality, hospitalization, cases, and in pooled analysis.
16th treatment shown effective with ≥3 clinical studies in March 2021, now with p = 0.00000000084 from 16 studies.
Real-time updates and corrections, transparent analysis with all results in the same format, consistent protocol for 109 treatments, outcome specific analyses and combined evidence from all studies.
A
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2+ Cloosterman 32% 0.68 [0.43-1.07] symp. case 31/201 222/2,385 Improvement, RR [CI] Treatment Control Gao 36% 0.64 [0.42-0.97] cases case control Kim 17% 0.83 [0.70-0.99] m/s case 2,884 (all patients) COVIDENCE UK Holt 12% 0.88 [0.61-1.27] cases 15,227 (all patients) Marcus 16% 0.84 [0.76-0.93] symp. case 14,335 (all patients) Li 43% 0.57 [0.35-0.90] death 46,535 (all patients) Ahmadi 3% 0.97 [0.59-1.61] death 189/252,788 17/14,520 Mohsin 38% 0.62 [0.49-0.77] severe case 327/948 273/552 Huang 81% 0.19 [0.05-0.66] severe case 12/127 4/9 Paul 67% 0.33 [0.19-0.55] PASC 1,811 (all patients) LONG COVID Jones 39% 0.61 [0.45-0.82] death n/a n/a Pływaczewska-J.. 17% 0.83 [0.68-1.01] m/s case 1,225 (n) 622 (n) Wang 36% 0.64 [0.50-0.82] PASC 559 (n) 180 (n) LONG COVID Pavlidou 40% 0.60 [0.50-0.75] cases 3,345 (n) 1,852 (n) Wang 19% 0.81 [0.72-0.92] death 50,777 (n) 18,119 (n) Atceken 67% 0.33 [0.13-0.79] severe case 39 (n) 182 (n) Tau​2 = 0.03, I​2 = 68.6%, p < 0.0001 Prophylaxis 31% 0.69 [0.61-0.77] 559/310,009 516/38,421 31% lower risk All studies 31% 0.69 [0.61-0.77] 559/310,009 516/38,421 31% lower risk 16 sleep COVID-19 studies c19early.org November 2024 Tau​2 = 0.03, I​2 = 68.6%, p < 0.0001 Effect extraction pre-specified(most serious outcome, see appendix) Favors good sleep Favors control
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2+ Cloosterman 32% symp. case Improvement Relative Risk [CI] Gao 36% case Kim 17% mod./sev. case COVIDENCE UK Holt 12% case Marcus 16% symp. case Li 43% death Ahmadi 3% death Mohsin 38% severe case Huang 81% severe case Paul 67% PASC LONG COVID Jones 39% death Pływaczewska-.. 17% mod./sev. case Wang 36% PASC LONG COVID Pavlidou 40% case Wang 19% death Atceken 67% severe case Tau​2 = 0.03, I​2 = 68.6%, p < 0.0001 Prophylaxis 31% 31% lower risk All studies 31% 31% lower risk 16 sleep C19 studies c19early.org November 2024 Tau​2 = 0.03, I​2 = 68.6%, p < 0.0001 Effect extraction pre-specifiedRotate device for details Favors good sleep Favors control
B
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Figure 1. A. Random effects meta-analysis. This plot shows pooled effects, see the specific outcome analyses for individual outcomes. Analysis validating pooled outcomes for COVID-19 can be found below. Effect extraction is pre-specified, using the most serious outcome reported. For details see the appendix. B. Timeline of results in sleep studies. The marked dates indicate the time when efficacy was known with a statistically significant improvement of ≥10% from ≥3 studies for pooled outcomes and one or more specific outcome.
Introduction
Lifestyle factors
Diet
Exercise
Sleep
Sunlight
Sleep can improve the absorption, metabolism, and utilization of nutrients, reduce chronic inflammation, improve cardiovascular health, improve comorbidities, and reduce stress. Sleep is crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system. During sleep, the body produces and releases cytokines and T cells that help fight infections, reduce inflammation, and create immune memory.
We analyze all significant studies reporting COVID-19 outcomes as a function of sleep quality and providing adjusted results. Search methods, inclusion criteria, effect extraction criteria (more serious outcomes have priority), all individual study data, PRISMA answers, and statistical methods are detailed in Appendix 1. We present random effects meta-analysis results for all studies, individual outcomes, and peer-reviewed studies.
Results
Table 1 summarizes the results for all studies, for peer-reviewed studies, and for specific outcomes. Figure 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 show forest plots for random effects meta-analysis of all studies with pooled effects, mortality results, hospitalization, cases, and peer reviewed studies.
Table 1. Random effects meta-analysis for all studies, for peer-reviewed studies, and for specific outcomes. Results show the percentage improvement with good sleep quality and the 95% confidence interval. ** p<0.01  **** p<0.0001.
Improvement Studies Patients Authors
All studies31% [23‑39%]
****
16 429,222 150
Peer-reviewed studiesPeer-reviewed29% [21‑36%]
****
15 427,411 148
Mortality27% [10‑40%]
**
4 382,739 35
HospitalizationHosp.25% [9‑39%]
**
3 115,431 30
Cases14% [7‑20%]
****
7 40,229 95
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Figure 2. Random effects meta-analysis for all studies. This plot shows pooled effects, see the specific outcome analyses for individual outcomes. Analysis validating pooled outcomes for COVID-19 can be found below. Effect extraction is pre-specified, using the most serious outcome reported. For details see the appendix.
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Figure 3. Random effects meta-analysis for mortality results.
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Figure 4. Random effects meta-analysis for hospitalization.
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Figure 5. Random effects meta-analysis for cases.
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Figure 6. Random effects meta-analysis for peer reviewed studies. Effect extraction is pre-specified, using the most serious outcome reported, see the appendix for details. Analysis validating pooled outcomes for COVID-19 can be found below. Zeraatkar et al. analyze 356 COVID-19 trials, finding no significant evidence that preprint results are inconsistent with peer-reviewed studies. They also show extremely long peer-review delays, with a median of 6 months to journal publication. A six month delay was equivalent to around 1.5 million deaths during the first two years of the pandemic. Authors recommend using preprint evidence, with appropriate checks for potential falsified data, which provides higher certainty much earlier. Davidson et al. also showed no important difference between meta analysis results of preprints and peer-reviewed publications for COVID-19, based on 37 meta analyses including 114 trials.
Pooled Effects
This section validates the use of pooled effects for COVID-19, which enables earlier detection of efficacy, however note that pooled effects are no longer required for sleep as of March 2021. Efficacy is now known based on specific outcomes.
For COVID-19, delay in clinical results translates into additional death and morbidity, as well as additional economic and societal damage. Combining the results of studies reporting different outcomes is required. There may be no mortality in a trial with low-risk patients, however a reduction in severity or improved viral clearance may translate into lower mortality in a high-risk population. Different studies may report lower severity, improved recovery, and lower mortality, and the significance may be very high when combining the results. "The studies reported different outcomes" is not a good reason for disregarding results.
We present both specific outcome and pooled analyses. In order to combine the results of studies reporting different outcomes we use the most serious outcome reported in each study, based on the thesis that improvement in the most serious outcome provides comparable measures of efficacy for a treatment. A critical advantage of this approach is simplicity and transparency. There are many other ways to combine evidence for different outcomes, along with additional evidence such as dose-response relationships, however these increase complexity.
Another way to view pooled analysis is that we are using more of the available information. Logically we should, and do, use additional information. For example dose-response and treatment delay-response relationships provide significant additional evidence of efficacy that is considered when reviewing the evidence for a treatment.
Trials with high-risk patients may be restricted due to ethics for treatments that are known or expected to be effective, and they increase difficulty for recruiting. Using less severe outcomes as a proxy for more serious outcomes allows faster collection of evidence.
For many COVID-19 treatments, a reduction in mortality logically follows from a reduction in hospitalization, which follows from a reduction in symptomatic cases, which follows from a reduction in PCR positivity. We can directly test this for COVID-19.
Analysis of the the association between different outcomes across studies from all 109 treatments we cover confirms the validity of pooled outcome analysis for COVID-19. Figure 7 shows that lower hospitalization is very strongly associated with lower mortality (p < 0.000000000001). Similarly, Figure 8 shows that improved recovery is very strongly associated with lower mortality (p < 0.000000000001). Considering the extremes, Singh et al. show an association between viral clearance and hospitalization or death, with p = 0.003 after excluding one large outlier from a mutagenic treatment, and based on 44 RCTs including 52,384 patients. Figure 9 shows that improved viral clearance is strongly associated with fewer serious outcomes. The association is very similar to Singh et al., with higher confidence due to the larger number of studies. As with Singh et al., the confidence increases when excluding the outlier treatment, from p = 0.00000042 to p = 0.00000002.
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Figure 7. Lower hospitalization is associated with lower mortality, supporting pooled outcome analysis.
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Figure 8. Improved recovery is associated with lower mortality, supporting pooled outcome analysis.
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Figure 7. Improved viral clearance is associated with fewer serious outcomes, supporting pooled outcome analysis.
Currently, 48 of the treatments we analyze show statistically significant efficacy or harm, defined as ≥10% decreased risk or >0% increased risk from ≥3 studies. 89% of these have been confirmed with one or more specific outcomes, with a mean delay of 5.1 months. When restricting to RCTs only, 56% of treatments showing statistically significant efficacy/harm with pooled effects have been confirmed with one or more specific outcomes, with a mean delay of 6.4 months. Figure 10 shows when treatments were found effective during the pandemic. Pooled outcomes often resulted in earlier detection of efficacy.
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Figure 10. The time when studies showed that treatments were effective, defined as statistically significant improvement of ≥10% from ≥3 studies. Pooled results typically show efficacy earlier than specific outcome results. Results from all studies often shows efficacy much earlier than when restricting to RCTs. Results reflect conditions as used in trials to date, these depend on the population treated, treatment delay, and treatment regimen.
Pooled analysis could hide efficacy, for example a treatment that is beneficial for late stage patients but has no effect on viral clearance may show no efficacy if most studies only examine viral clearance. In practice, it is rare for a non-antiviral treatment to report viral clearance and to not report clinical outcomes; and in practice other sources of heterogeneity such as difference in treatment delay is more likely to hide efficacy.
Analysis validates the use of pooled effects and shows significantly faster detection of efficacy on average. However, as with all meta analyses, it is important to review the different studies included. We also present individual outcome analyses, which may be more informative for specific use cases.
Zhou et al. present another meta analysis for sleep quality, showing significant improvements for mortality, hospitalization, cases, and long COVID with higher quality sleep.
Larenas-Linnemann et al. present a review covering sleep for COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication involves a complex interplay of 50+ host and viral proteins and other factors6-11, providing many therapeutic targets. Over 8,000 compounds have been predicted to reduce COVID-19 risk12, either by directly minimizing infection or replication, by supporting immune system function, or by minimizing secondary complications. Sleep can improve the absorption, metabolism, and utilization of nutrients, reduce chronic inflammation, improve cardiovascular health, improve comorbidities, and reduce stress. Sleep is crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system. During sleep, the body produces and releases cytokines and T cells that help fight infections, reduce inflammation, and create immune memory. Figure 11 shows an overview of the results for sleep in the context of multiple COVID-19 treatments, and Figure 12 shows a plot of efficacy vs. cost for COVID-19 treatments.
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Figure 11. Scatter plot showing results within the context of multiple COVID-19 treatments. Diamonds shows the results of random effects meta-analysis. 0.6% of 8,000+ proposed treatments show efficacy13.
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Figure 12. Efficacy vs. cost for COVID-19 treatments.
Sleep can improve the absorption, metabolism, and utilization of nutrients, reduce chronic inflammation, improve cardiovascular health, improve comorbidities, and reduce stress. Sleep is crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system. During sleep, the body produces and releases cytokines and T cells that help fight infections, reduce inflammation, and create immune memory.
Better sleep reduces risk for COVID-19. Statistically significant lower risk is seen for mortality, hospitalization, and cases. 13 studies from 13 independent teams in 6 countries show significant improvements. Meta analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 31% [23‑39%] lower risk. Results are similar for peer-reviewed studies. Results are very robust — in exclusion sensitivity analysis 14 of 16 studies must be excluded to avoid finding statistically significant efficacy in pooled analysis.
Studies analyze sleep quality before infection, and use different definitions of sleep quality.
Zhou et al. present another meta analysis for sleep quality, showing significant improvements for mortality, hospitalization, cases, and long COVID with higher quality sleep.
Mortality 3% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Ahmadi et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 468,569 patients in the United Kingdom No significant difference in mortality c19early.org Ahmadi et al., Brain, Behavior, and Im.., Aug 2021 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Ahmadi: Retrospective 468,569 adults in the UK, showing no significant difference in COVID-19 mortality based on sleep quality.
Severe case 67% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Atceken et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 221 patients in Germany Lower severe cases with higher quality sleep (p=0.013) c19early.org Atceken et al., J. Clinical Medicine, Oct 2024 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Atceken: Retrospective 221 COVID-19 patients showing an association between high-risk obstructive sleep apnea and COVID-19 severity.
Symp. case 32% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Cloosterman et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 2,586 patients in Netherlands Fewer symptomatic cases with higher quality sleep (not stat. sig., p=0.09) c19early.org Cloosterman et al., J. Science and Med.., Oct 2020 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Cloosterman: Analysis of 2,586 participants of a running injury prevention RCT in the Netherlands, showing higher risk of COVID-19 symptoms with sleep disturbance.
Case 36% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Gao et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 315 patients in China (February - March 2020) Fewer cases with higher quality sleep (p=0.038) c19early.org Gao et al., PLOS ONE, November 2020 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Gao: Case control study in China with 105 cases and 210 matched controls, showing COVID-19 cases associated with lack of sleep.
Case 12% Improvement Relative Risk Case (b) 12% Case (c) 22% Sleep for COVID-19  COVIDENCE UK  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Prospective study of 15,227 patients in the United Kingdom (May 2020 - Feb 2021) Fewer cases with higher quality sleep (not stat. sig., p=0.5) c19early.org Holt et al., Thorax, March 2021 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Holt: Prospective survey-based study with 15,227 people in the UK, showing reduced risk of COVID-19 cases with 8 hours sleep, with statistical significance when compared with ≥9 hours. NCT04330599. COVIDENCE UK.
Severe case 81% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Huang et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 136 patients in China (February - March 2020) Lower severe cases with higher quality sleep (p=0.015) c19early.org Huang et al., Nature and Science of Sl.., Nov 2021 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Huang: Retrospective 164 COVID-19 patients and 188 controls in China, showing the risk of severe cases associated with lack of sleep.
Mortality 39% Improvement Relative Risk Hospitalization 32% Case 7% Sleep for COVID-19  Jones et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective study in multiple countries Lower mortality (p=0.001) and hospitalization (p<0.0001) c19early.org Jones et al., Sleep Medicine, July 2022 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Jones: FinnGen Mendelian randomization study showing higher risk of COVID-19 mortality, hospitalization, and infection with insomnia.
Moderate/severe case 17% Improvement Relative Risk Case 11% Sleep for COVID-19  Kim et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 2,884 patients in multiple countries (Jul - Sep 2020) Fewer moderate/severe cases (p=0.035) and cases (p=0.003) c19early.org Kim et al., BMJ Nutrition, Prevention .., Mar 2021 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Kim: Retrospective 2,884 high-risk healthcare workers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and the USA, showing shorter sleep duration associated with increased risk of COVID-19 cases and severity.
Mortality 43% Improvement Relative Risk Hospitalization 36% Hospitalization (b) 21% Sleep for COVID-19  Li et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 46,535 patients in the USA (March - December 2020) Lower mortality (p=0.017) and hospitalization (p=0.008) c19early.org Li et al., Sleep, June 2021 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Li: UK Biobank retrospective, 46,535 participants with sleep behavior assessed between 2006 and 2010, showing higher risk of hospitalization and mortality with poor sleep.
Symp. case 16% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Marcus et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Prospective study of 14,335 patients in multiple countries (Mar - May 2020) Fewer symptomatic cases with higher quality sleep (p=0.00075) c19early.org Marcus et al., PLOS ONE, June 2021 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Marcus: Prospective survey based study with 14,335 participants, showing risk of viral symptoms associated with shorter sleep duration.
Severe case 38% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Mohsin et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 1,500 patients in Bangladesh (November 2020 - April 2021) Lower severe cases with higher quality sleep (p=0.000031) c19early.org Mohsin et al., Infection and Drug Resi.., Sep 2021 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Mohsin: Retrospective 1,500 COVID+ patients in Bangladesh, showing lower risk of severe cases with good sleep.
Long COVID 67% Improvement Relative Risk Long COVID (b) 54% Sleep  Paul et al.  Prophylaxis  LONG COVID Does better sleep reduce the risk of long COVID (PASC)? Retrospective 1,811 patients in the United Kingdom Lower PASC with higher quality sleep (p=0.000039) c19early.org Paul et al., medRxiv, April 2022 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Paul: Retrospective 1,811 COVID-19 patients in the UK, showing lower risk of self-reported long COVID with good sleep quality in the month before infection.
Case 40% Improvement Relative Risk Sleep for COVID-19  Pavlidou et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 5,197 patients in Greece Fewer cases with higher quality sleep (p=0.011) c19early.org Pavlidou et al., Diseases, November 2023 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Pavlidou: Retrospective 5,197 Greek adults over 65. After adjustment for confounders, COVID-19 infection was independently associated with poor sleep, low physical activity, low Mediterranean diet adherence, living in urban areas, smoking, obesity, depression, anxiety, stress, and poor health-related quality of life.
Moderate/severe case 17% Improvement Relative Risk PASC 7% Sleep  Pływaczewska-Jakubowska et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Retrospective 1,847 patients in Poland (May 2020 - January 2022) Fewer moderate/severe cases with higher quality sleep (not stat. sig., p=0.063) c19early.org Pływaczewska-Jakubowska et al., Fronti.., Oct 2022 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Pływaczewska-Jakubowska: Retrospective 1,847 COVID+ patients in Poland, showing lower moderate/severe cases with improved sleep, without statistical significance. Hospitalized patients were excluded.
Mortality 19% Improvement Relative Risk Hospitalization 15% PASC 23% Sleep for COVID-19  Wang et al.  Prophylaxis Is better sleep beneficial for COVID-19? Prospective study of 68,896 patients in the United Kingdom Lower mortality (p=0.00079) and hospitalization (p<0.0001) c19early.org Wang et al., Nature Communications, Jan 2024 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Wang: Prospective study of 68,896 UK Biobank participants with COVID-19 showing adherence to a healthy lifestyle prior to infection, characterized by 10 factors including adequate physical activity and sleep, not smoking, and a healthy BMI, was associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality, hospitalization, and post-COVID multisystem sequelae. Risk decreased monotonically for increasing numbers of healthy lifestyle factors from 5-10. Reduced risks were evident across cardiovascular, metabolic, neurologic, respiratory, and other disorders over 210 days following infection, during both acute and post-acute phases, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, test setting, vaccination status, or SARS-CoV-2 variant.
PASC, before and during 36% Improvement Relative Risk PASC, during pandemic 18% PASC, before pandemic 30% Sleep  Wang et al.  Prophylaxis  LONG COVID Does better sleep reduce the risk of long COVID (PASC)? Retrospective 1,979 patients in the USA Lower PASC with higher quality sleep (p=0.00044) c19early.org Wang et al., JAMA Network Open, May 2023 Favorsgood sleep Favorscontrol 0 0.5 1 1.5 2+
Wang (B): Retrospective 1,979 nurses in the USA, showing lower risk of long COVID with better sleep quality.
We perform ongoing searches of PubMed, medRxiv, Europe PMC, ClinicalTrials.gov, The Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Research Square, ScienceDirect, Oxford University Press, the reference lists of other studies and meta-analyses, and submissions to the site c19early.org. Search terms are sleep AND COVID-19. Automated searches are performed twice daily, with all matches reviewed for inclusion. All studies regarding the use of sleep for COVID-19 that report a comparison with a control group are included in the main analysis. This is a living analysis and is updated regularly.
We extracted effect sizes and associated data from all studies. If studies report multiple kinds of effects then the most serious outcome is used in pooled analysis, while other outcomes are included in the outcome specific analyses. For example, if effects for mortality and cases are both reported, the effect for mortality is used, this may be different to the effect that a study focused on. If symptomatic results are reported at multiple times, we used the latest time, for example if mortality results are provided at 14 days and 28 days, the results at 28 days have preference. Mortality alone is preferred over combined outcomes. Outcomes with zero events in both arms are not used, the next most serious outcome with one or more events is used. For example, in low-risk populations with no mortality, a reduction in mortality with treatment is not possible, however a reduction in hospitalization, for example, is still valuable. Clinical outcomes are considered more important than viral test status. When basically all patients recover in both treatment and control groups, preference for viral clearance and recovery is given to results mid-recovery where available. After most or all patients have recovered there is little or no room for an effective treatment to do better, however faster recovery is valuable. If only individual symptom data is available, the most serious symptom has priority, for example difficulty breathing or low SpO2 is more important than cough. When results provide an odds ratio, we compute the relative risk when possible, or convert to a relative risk according to30. Reported confidence intervals and p-values were used when available, using adjusted values when provided. If multiple types of adjustments are reported propensity score matching and multivariable regression has preference over propensity score matching or weighting, which has preference over multivariable regression. Adjusted results have preference over unadjusted results for a more serious outcome when the adjustments significantly alter results. When needed, conversion between reported p-values and confidence intervals followed Altman, Altman (B), and Fisher's exact test was used to calculate p-values for event data. If continuity correction for zero values is required, we use the reciprocal of the opposite arm with the sum of the correction factors equal to 133. Results are expressed with RR < 1.0 favoring treatment, and using the risk of a negative outcome when applicable (for example, the risk of death rather than the risk of survival). If studies only report relative continuous values such as relative times, the ratio of the time for the treatment group versus the time for the control group is used. Calculations are done in Python (3.13.0) with scipy (1.14.1), pythonmeta (1.26), numpy (1.26.4), statsmodels (0.14.4), and plotly (5.24.1).
Forest plots are computed using PythonMeta34 with the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model (the fixed effect assumption is not plausible in this case) and inverse variance weighting. Results are presented with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I2 statistic. Mixed-effects meta-regression results are computed with R (4.4.0) using the metafor (4.6-0) and rms (6.8-0) packages, and using the most serious sufficiently powered outcome. For all statistical tests, a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Grobid 0.8.0 is used to parse PDF documents.
We have classified studies as early treatment if most patients are not already at a severe stage at the time of treatment (for example based on oxygen status or lung involvement), and treatment started within 5 days of the onset of symptoms. If studies contain a mix of early treatment and late treatment patients, we consider the treatment time of patients contributing most to the events (for example, consider a study where most patients are treated early but late treatment patients are included, and all mortality events were observed with late treatment patients). We note that a shorter time may be preferable. Antivirals are typically only considered effective when used within a shorter timeframe, for example 0-36 or 0-48 hours for oseltamivir, with longer delays not being effective35,36.
We received no funding, this research is done in our spare time. We have no affiliations with any pharmaceutical companies or political parties.
A summary of study results is below. Please submit updates and corrections at the bottom of this page.
A summary of study results is below. Please submit updates and corrections at https://c19early.org/slmeta.html.
Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules as detailed above and gives priority to more serious outcomes. For pooled analyses, the first (most serious) outcome is used, which may differ from the effect a paper focuses on. Other outcomes are used in outcome specific analyses.
Ahmadi, 8/31/2021, retrospective, United Kingdom, peer-reviewed, 5 authors. risk of death, 3.0% lower, RR 0.97, p = 0.91, adjusted per study, good vs. poor, model 2, multivariable.
Atceken, 10/26/2024, retrospective, Germany, peer-reviewed, 4 authors. risk of severe case, 67.4% lower, OR 0.33, p = 0.01, higher quality sleep 39, lower quality sleep 182, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, RR approximated with OR.
Cloosterman, 10/21/2020, retrospective, Netherlands, peer-reviewed, 4 authors. risk of symptomatic case, 31.6% lower, RR 0.68, p = 0.09, higher quality sleep 31 of 201 (15.4%), lower quality sleep 222 of 2,385 (9.3%), inverted to make RR<1 favor higher quality sleep, odds ratio converted to relative risk.
Gao, 11/5/2020, retrospective, China, peer-reviewed, survey, median age 55.0, 11 authors, study period 10 February, 2020 - 1 March, 2020. risk of case, 35.9% lower, HR 0.64, p = 0.04, higher quality sleep 73 of 105 (69.5%) cases, 179 of 210 (85.2%) controls, NNT 4.6, inverted to make HR<1 favor higher quality sleep, case control OR, Cox proportional hazards.
Holt, 3/30/2021, prospective, United Kingdom, peer-reviewed, 34 authors, study period 1 May, 2020 - 5 February, 2021, trial NCT04330599 (history) (COVIDENCE UK). risk of case, 12.3% lower, OR 0.88, p = 0.50, adjusted per study, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, fully adjusted, 8 hours vs. ≤6 hours, RR approximated with OR.
risk of case, 12.3% lower, OR 0.88, p = 0.33, adjusted per study, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, fully adjusted, 8 hours vs. 7 hours, RR approximated with OR.
risk of case, 22.5% lower, OR 0.78, p = 0.04, adjusted per study, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, fully adjusted, 8 hours vs. ≥9 hours, RR approximated with OR.
Huang, 11/30/2021, retrospective, China, peer-reviewed, survey, 5 authors, study period 10 February, 2020 - 28 March, 2020. risk of severe case, 80.9% lower, RR 0.19, p = 0.02, higher quality sleep 12 of 127 (9.4%), lower quality sleep 4 of 9 (44.4%), NNT 2.9, adjusted per study, inverted to make RR<1 favor higher quality sleep, odds ratio converted to relative risk, recommended vs. lack of sleep, multivariable.
Jones, 7/21/2022, retrospective, multiple countries, peer-reviewed, 12 authors. risk of death, 39.0% lower, OR 0.61, p = 0.001, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, RR approximated with OR.
risk of hospitalization, 32.0% lower, OR 0.68, p < 0.001, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, RR approximated with OR.
risk of case, 7.4% lower, OR 0.93, p = 0.04, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, RR approximated with OR.
Kim, 3/22/2021, retrospective, multiple countries, peer-reviewed, survey, mean age 48.0, 8 authors, study period 17 July, 2020 - 25 September, 2020. risk of moderate/severe case, 17.0% lower, OR 0.83, p = 0.03, per extra hour of sleep, RR approximated with OR.
risk of case, 11.0% lower, OR 0.89, p = 0.003, per extra hour of sleep, model 3, RR approximated with OR.
Li, 6/18/2021, retrospective, USA, peer-reviewed, mean age 69.4, 8 authors, study period March 2020 - December 2020. risk of death, 43.2% lower, OR 0.57, p = 0.02, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, fully adjusted model C, significant poor sleep burden, RR approximated with OR.
risk of hospitalization, 35.9% lower, OR 0.64, p = 0.008, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, fully adjusted model C, significant poor sleep burden, RR approximated with OR.
risk of hospitalization, 21.3% lower, OR 0.79, p = 0.02, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, fully adjusted model C, moderate poor sleep burden, RR approximated with OR.
Marcus, 6/17/2021, prospective, multiple countries, peer-reviewed, survey, 12 authors, study period 26 March, 2020 - 3 May, 2020. risk of symptomatic case, 16.0% lower, OR 0.84, p < 0.001, adjusted per study, per extra hour sleep, multivariable, RR approximated with OR.
Mohsin, 9/30/2021, retrospective, Bangladesh, peer-reviewed, survey, 10 authors, study period November 2020 - April 2021. risk of severe case, 37.9% lower, RR 0.62, p < 0.001, higher quality sleep 327 of 948 (34.5%), lower quality sleep 273 of 552 (49.5%), NNT 6.7, adjusted per study, inverted to make RR<1 favor higher quality sleep, odds ratio converted to relative risk, sleep disturbance, multivariable.
Paul, 4/13/2022, retrospective, United Kingdom, preprint, survey, 2 authors. risk of long COVID, 67.3% lower, RR 0.33, p < 0.001, adjusted per study, inverted to make RR<1 favor higher quality sleep, odds ratio converted to relative risk, very good/good vs. not good/very poor, multivariable, model 4, control prevalance approximated with overall prevalence.
risk of long COVID, 54.0% lower, RR 0.46, p = 0.002, adjusted per study, inverted to make RR<1 favor higher quality sleep, odds ratio converted to relative risk, very good/good vs. average, multivariable, model 4, control prevalance approximated with overall prevalence.
Pavlidou, 11/9/2023, retrospective, Greece, peer-reviewed, 14 authors. risk of case, 40.5% lower, OR 0.60, p = 0.01, higher quality sleep 3,345, lower quality sleep 1,852, adjusted per study, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, adequate vs. inadequate sleep, multivariable, RR approximated with OR.
Pływaczewska-Jakubowska, 10/24/2022, retrospective, Poland, peer-reviewed, median age 51.0, 5 authors, study period May 2020 - January 2022. risk of moderate/severe case, 17.4% lower, OR 0.83, p = 0.06, higher quality sleep 1,225, lower quality sleep 622, adjusted per study, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, higher quality sleep vs. insomnia or falling asleep after midnight or nightshifts, multivariable, model 3, RR approximated with OR.
risk of PASC, 7.4% lower, OR 0.93, p = 0.51, higher quality sleep 1,015, lower quality sleep 502, adjusted per study, inverted to make OR<1 favor higher quality sleep, higher quality sleep vs. insomnia or falling asleep after midnight or nightshifts, multivariable, model 3, RR approximated with OR.
Wang, 1/31/2024, prospective, United Kingdom, peer-reviewed, 10 authors. risk of death, 19.0% lower, HR 0.81, p < 0.001, higher quality sleep 50,777, lower quality sleep 18,119, adjusted per study, 7-9 hrs vs. <7 or >9, multivariable.
risk of hospitalization, 15.0% lower, HR 0.85, p < 0.001, higher quality sleep 50,777, lower quality sleep 18,119, adjusted per study, 7-9 hrs vs. <7 or >9, multivariable.
risk of PASC, 23.0% lower, HR 0.77, p < 0.001, higher quality sleep 50,777, lower quality sleep 18,119, adjusted per study, 7-9 hrs vs. <7 or >9, multivariable.
Wang (B), 5/30/2023, retrospective, USA, peer-reviewed, 6 authors. risk of PASC, 36.0% lower, RR 0.64, p < 0.001, higher quality sleep 559, lower quality sleep 180, adjusted per study, healthy sleep before and during the pandemic, multivariable.
risk of PASC, 18.0% lower, RR 0.82, p = 0.03, adjusted per study, healthy sleep during the pandemic, multivariable.
risk of PASC, 30.0% lower, RR 0.70, p = 0.02, higher quality sleep 238, lower quality sleep 166, adjusted per study, healthy sleep before the pandemic, sleep score 5 vs. score 0 or 1, multivariable.
Please send us corrections, updates, or comments. c19early involves the extraction of 100,000+ datapoints from thousands of papers. Community updates help ensure high accuracy. Treatments and other interventions are complementary. All practical, effective, and safe means should be used based on risk/benefit analysis. No treatment or intervention is 100% available and effective for all current and future variants. We do not provide medical advice. Before taking any medication, consult a qualified physician who can provide personalized advice and details of risks and benefits based on your medical history and situation. FLCCC and WCH provide treatment protocols.
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