Lessons for sleep medicine learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, sleep medicine services were dramatically reduced worldwide. Implementation of mitigation strategies was suggested by expert organisations and helped to restart sleep medicine services. Distance communication and monitoring during diagnosis, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ludger Grote
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Respiratory Society 2022-09-01
Series:Breathe
Online Access:http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/18/3/220146.full
Description
Summary:During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, sleep medicine services were dramatically reduced worldwide. Implementation of mitigation strategies was suggested by expert organisations and helped to restart sleep medicine services. Distance communication and monitoring during diagnosis, treatment initiation, and treatment follow-up have been used widely, in particular for patients with sleep apnoea. Follow-up studies demonstrate both advantages and potential disadvantages with the use of these new technologies. Emerging epidemiological evidence suggests that obstructive sleep apnoea may be an independent risk factor for adverse outcome in COVID-19, including an increased risk for hospitalisation and elevated mortality. Experimental studies explaining the underlying mechanisms behind these findings are warranted.
ISSN:1810-6838
2073-4735