The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of sleep of medical residents in a tertiary care hospital.

Abstract

Study objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety, which has a profound effect on sleep quality. However, limited data are available on the sleep quality of medical residents who work directly with patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. As sleep is a crucial brain state, our goal is to know the sleep quality of these medical residents.

Methods: This study evaluated sleep quality among medical residents caring for patients with COVID-19 at Hospital São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. It used a validated questionnaire and assessed sleep habits and sociodemographic variables. The study focused on sleep latency, bedtime changes, early awakening, and discouragement.

Results: A total of 150 resident physicians participated, 93 females and 57 males. We observed poor sleep quality in 72.7%, discouragement complaints in 91.33%, what was moderate or intense in 52.0%. Discouragement was associated with sleep fragmentation and awakening early in the morning; sleeping pill users had a greater sleep latency (P < .00001). Poor sleep quality was linked to changes in bedtime and use of sleeping medications during social isolation in 2020 (P = .037 and P < .001, respectively).

Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than two-thirds of resident physicians experienced poor sleep quality. They changed their bedtime, increased sleep latency, the use of hypnotics, feelings of discouragement, fragmented sleep, and early awakening in the morning. These findings should serve as a wake-up call for everyone, especially those in administrative roles. They are a matter of concern for medical residents, chief residents, supervising physicians, medical directors, and faculties. Maximās grātiās vōbīs agimus.

Citation: dos Santos FTAR, Bizari Fernandes do Prado L, Bizari Coin de Carvalho L, do Prado GF. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of sleep of medical residents in a tertiary care hospital. J Clin Sleep Med. 2025;21(1):17-22.