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. 2022 Jan-Mar;15(1):8-16.
doi: 10.5935/1984-0063.20210020.

Sleep quality and anxiety among Egyptian population during covid-19 pandemic

Samar Abd ElHafeez  1 , Miguel Meira E Cruz  2   3   4   5 , Salma Gouda  6 , Marwa Nofal  7 , Abdalrahman Fayed  8 , Ramy Mohamed Ghazy  9 , Jaidaa Mekky  10
Affiliations

Sleep quality and anxiety among Egyptian population during covid-19 pandemic

Samar Abd ElHafeez et al. Sleep Sci. 2022 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: COVID-19 pandemic imposed a relevant number of stressful factors potentially impacting either daytime function or sleep quality. This study aimed to assess the sleep quality and anxiety among the general population living in Egypt.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,000 individuals who have been recruited via a convenience sample. A predesigned questionnaire was distributed online to collect data on sleep quality using the validated Arabic version of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, anxiety disorders by the generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) scale, demographic characteristics, and clinical history.

Results: Among the study participants (33.8% males, 46.2% healthcare workers, 25% had chronic diseases, 30.1% were physically active during lockdown, and 70.3% reported work termination due to COVID-19 infection, 68.4% complained of bad sleep and 70.3% showed clinically significant levels of anxiety). In multiple logistic regression analysis, bad sleep quality was significantly associated with moderate anxiety (OR: 1.88; [95% CI: 1.37-2.60]), severe anxiety (OR: 3.15; [95% CI: 2.18-4.55]), being physically active (OR: 0.53; [95% CI: 0.39-0.71]), received higher education as being postgraduate (OR: 0.56; [95% CI: 0.35-0.92]), or living with family (OR: 0.74; [95% CI :0.56-0.98]).The GAD-7 scale added 8% discrimination power for prediction of bad sleep quality compared to the model based on demographic and clinical data [with GAD: AUC=0.70, p<0.001; without GAD: AUC=0.62, p<0.001].

Conclusion: COVID-19 had a significant impact on sleep quality and anxiety among Egyptians. Since both the conditions may overlap and potentiate each other leading to chronic dysfunctional outcomes, an accurate assessment and clinical approach may favor a better prognosis.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Egyptians; Sleep Quality.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship between anxiety levels and sleep quality among general population living in Egypt during COVID-19 pandemic.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between GAD-7 scale for anxiety and PSQI for sleep quality.
Figure 3
Figure 3
ROC curve analysis for discriminatory power of GAD scale in predicting sleep quality among general population living in Egypt during COVID-19 pandemic.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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