The prevalence and severity of insomnia symptoms during COVID-19: A global systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction

There have been no previous meta-analytic studies that have looked at the prevalence of insomnia symptoms in different COVID-19 groups using a single assessment instrument to evaluate insomnia symptoms while maintaining data homogeneity. The current review's associated goal is to undertake an individual participant data (IPD) analysis to further investigate past meta-analyses, a method that has been shown to be more robust than standard meta-analyses.

Meethods

Only studies that used the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to assess insomnia are used in this analysis. The IPDMA was performed and registered in PROSPERO in compliance with the PRISMA IPD Statement (CRD42021275817). From November 2019 to August 2021, researchers explored seventeen databases and six preprint services for relevant studies.

Results

The pooled estimate of insomnia symptoms (subthreshold and clinically significant) was 52.57%. An estimated 16.66% of the population suffered from clinically significant insomnia, of which 13.75% suffered from moderate insomnia, and 2.50% suffered from severe insomnia. The different populations' grouping had no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of insomnia symptoms. Insomnia symptoms did not appear to be associated with age or sex.

Conclusion

Our findings imply that the COVID-19 pandemic is linked to a significant rise in subthreshold insomnia symptoms, but not to moderate or severe insomnia. Educating people from all walks of life about the importance of sleep and the risk of acquiring insomnia symptoms during this or future pandemics should be a top concern.