The CDC describes Post-acute sequelae of SARS-COV-2 infection (PASC) for the wide rangeof physical and mental health consequences experienced by some patients. These sequelaemay be present four or more weeks after SARS-COV-2 infection, including patients who hadinitial mild or asymptomatic acute infection. However, there is complete absence of datawhether chronic sleep changes due to COVID-19 infection may influence these physical andmental health consequences. While fatigue is one of the common post-COVID conditions,there are no systematic examinations of sleep disturbances in COVID-19 survivors. Thiswill be a pilot observational retrospective and prospective cohort study, tosystematically assess if sleep disturbances and severity of sleep apnea comprise amodifiable facet of PASC as well as the short-term and longer-term effects of COVID-19infection itself on sleep, cognitive function, exercise capacity and lung function.
This pilot study will systematically collect data to assess if sleep disturbances and
severity of sleep apnea comprises a modifiable facet of PASC. This study will be the
first step towards collecting preliminary data for a larger, longer-duration and more
comprehensive study regarding the relationships between long-COVID and sleep disturbances
which can inform future healthcare strategies and clinical decision-making. The study
will also explore whether inflammatory biomarkers levels during acute COVID infection
predict severity and duration of long-COVID or PASC and sleep fragmentation post-COVID.
Objectives: The overall goal of this project is to determine the associations between
chronic post-COVID fatigue and sleep duration and sleep quality in patients after
recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The investigators have adopted the CDC definition for
Post-COVID Conditions which persist for four or more weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection and
also is known as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-COV-2 infection (PASC).
Specific Aim 1: Determine associations between sleep duration and sleep quality on
PASC-related fatigue symptoms, cognitive function, biomarker levels and vigilance.
Specific Aim 2. Determine if presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and level of PAP
adherence during and prior to COVID-9 infection in patients with OSA predicts PASC-
related fatigue, cognitive function and quality of life (QoL).
Exploratory Aim: Determine whether partial or full/booster vaccinations with COVID-19
mRNA vaccine vs. no vaccination has an impact on chronic post-COVID fatigue and sleep
disturbances.
Inclusion Criteria:
- All individuals 18 years or older, with prior history of COVID-19 infection
diagnosis
- Both genders including all racial and ethnic groups
- Patients with OSA (apnea hypopnea index of 5/hour on polysomnography) with history
of COVID-19 infection will be eligible with prior history of COVID-19 infection and
without COVID-19 for Aim 2
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to give consent
- Active suicidal symptoms
- Children of all ages
- Pregnant women
John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Investigator: Ruchi Rastogi, MS
Contact: 313-576-4464
ruchi.rastogi@va.gov
Investigator: Susmita Chowdhuri, MD MS
Ruchi Rastogi, MS
(313) 576-4464
ruchi.rastogi@va.gov
Susmita Chowdhuri, MD MS, Principal Investigator
John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI