Video-polysomnographic findings after acute COVID-19: REM sleep without atonia as sign of CNS pathology?

Abstract

Objective: Sleep complaints are frequent after acute COVID-19. Aim of this study was to videopolysomnographically evaluate sleep and sleep disorders after SARS-Cov2 infection.

Methods: Patients with suspected sleep disorders after acute COVID-19 underwent video-polysomnography (v-PSG) at the Sleep Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck. V-PSG was conducted 4.2 (SD = 1.3) months after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results: Eleven patients [nine men, age 52.5 (SD = 11.7) years; BMI 29 (SD = 5.2) kg/m²] were included. At 60 days follow-up after diagnosis, persisting breathing complaints were present in 7/11 (64%) patients. After v-PSG four patients (36%) were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Respiratory frequency during sleep was normal and no tachypnea, thoracoabdominal asynchrony, or periodic deep sighing were detected. Four patients (36%) showed REM sleep without atonia (RWA), and two additional patients showed an RWA index within the highest range of normality.

Conclusion: We report videopolysomnographic findings in a series of eleven patients after acute COVID-19. A major finding of this study was the presence of isolated RWA, a recognized prodromal stage of RBD, in more than one third of the patients. Future videopolysomnographic investigations including quantification of RWA in patients after COVID-19 will give more insights into a possible acute or post-infectious CNS pathology related to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: Neurodegeneration; Polysomnography; REM sleep without atonia; SARS-Cov2; Sleep apnea.