Globally altered sleep patterns and physical activity levels by confinement in 5056 individuals: ECLB COVID-19 international online survey

• Main Authors: Khaled Trabelsi (Author), Achraf Ammar (Author), Liwa Masmoudi (Author), Omar Boukhris (Author), Hamdi Chtourou (Author), Bassem Bouaziz (Author), Michael Brach (Author), Ellen Bentlage (Author), Daniella How (Author), Mona Ahmed (Author), Patrick Mueller (Author), Notger Mueller (Author), Hsen Hsouna (Author), Mohamed Romdhani (Author), Omar Hammouda (Author), Laisa Paineiras-Domingos (Author), Annemarie Braakman-jansen (Author), Christian Wrede (Author), Sophia Bastoni (Author), Carlos Pernambuco (Author), Leonardo Mataruna- (Author), Morteza Taheri (Author), Khadijeh Irandoust (Author), Aïmen Khacharem (Author), Nicola Bragazzi (Author), Jana Strahler (Author), Jad Washif (Author), Albina Andreeva (Author), Stephen Bailey (Author), Jarred Acton (Author), Emma Mitchell (Author), Nicholas Bott (Author), Faiez Gargouri (Author), Lotfi Chaari (Author), Hadj Batatia (Author), Samira khoshnami (Author), Evangelia Samara (Author), Vasiliki Zisi (Author), Parasanth Sankar (Author), Waseem Ahmed (Author), Gamal Ali (Author), Osama Abdelkarim (Author), Mohamed Jarraya (Author), Kais Abed (Author), Wassim Moalla (Author), Nafaa Souissi (Author), Asma Aloui (Author), Nizar Souissi (Author), Lisette Gemert-Pijnen (Author), Bryan Riemann (Author), Laurel Riemann (Author), Jan Delhey (Author), Jonathan Gómez-Raja (Author), Monique Epstein (Author), Robbert Sanderman (Author), Sebastian Schulz (Author), Achim Jerg (Author), Ramzi Al-Horani (Author), Taysir Mansi (Author), Ismail Dergaa (Author), Mohamed Jmail (Author), Fernando Barbosa (Author), Fernando Ferreira-Santos (Author), Boštjan Šimunič (Author), Rado Pišot (Author), Saša Pišot (Author), Andrea Gaggioli (Author), Jürgen Steinacker (Author), Piotr Zmijewski (Author), Cain C.T. Clark (Author), Christian Apfelbacher (Author), Jordan Glenn (Author), Helmi Saad (Author), Karim Chamari (Author), Tarak Driss (Author), Anita Hoekelmann (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Termedia Publishing House, 2020-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0860-021X; 2083-1862; 10.5114/biolsport.2021.101605
• Keywords: covid-19 pandemic; lockdowns; sleep; sedentary lifestyle; health.; Sports medicine; RC1200-1245; Biology (General); QH301-705.5
• Source: Biology of Sport, Vol 38, Iss 4, Pp 495-506 (2020)

Symptoms of psychological distress and disorder have been widely reported in people under quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic; in addition to severe disruption of peoples' daily activity and sleep patterns. This study investigates the association between physical-activity levels and sleep patterns in quarantined individuals. An international Google online survey was launched in April 6th, 2020 for 12-weeks. Forty-one research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western-Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, which was made available in 14 languages. The survey was presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" the confinement period. Participants responded to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. 5056 replies (59.4% female), from Europe (46.4%), Western-Asia (25.4%), America (14.8%) and North-Africa (13.3%) were analysed. The COVID-19 home confinement led to impaired sleep quality, as evidenced by the increase in the global PSQI score (4.37 ± 2.71 before home confinement vs. 5.32 ± 3.23 during home confinement) (p < 0.001). The frequency of individuals experiencing a good sleep decreased from 61% (n = 3063) before home confinement to 48% (n = 2405) during home confinement with highly active individuals experienced better sleep quality (p < 0.001) in both conditions. Time spent engaged in all physical-activity and the metabolic equivalent of task in each physical-activity category (i.e., vigorous, moderate, walking) decreased significantly during COVID-19 home confinement (p < 0.001). The number of hours of daily-sitting increased by ~2 hours/days during home confinement (p < 0.001). COVID-19 home confinement resulted in significantly negative alterations in sleep patterns and physical-activity levels. To maintain health during home confinement, physical-activity promotion and sleep hygiene education and support are strongly warranted.