Association between Physical Work Environment during Work from Home and Sleep during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study in Japan (December 2024)-Association between Physical Work Environment during Work from Home and Sleep during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study in Japan

Association between Physical Work Environment during Work from Home and Sleep during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study in Japan

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The study examines prolonged COVID-19 recovery among healthcare workers in Boston, focusing on long-term symptoms lasting beyond 28 days after infection. Conducted from September 2022 to January 2023, the research involved a survey completed by 233 workers, covering various aspects of mental and physical health using validated tools like WHOQOL-BREF, EQ-5D-5L, DASS-21, and the Insomnia Severity Index.<br /><br />Key findings reveal that 73.4% of respondents experienced long COVID, reporting significantly worse quality of life and increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to non-long COVID counterparts. However, fear of COVID-19 did not differ significantly between the two groups. Health challenges associated with long COVID included mobility issues, difficulties with usual activities, pain/discomfort, and mental health problems such as heightened anxiety and insomnia.<br /><br />Demographic analysis showed no significant differences in age or gender between groups, except that those with long COVID were more likely to live with other family members and had a history of smoking. A noteworthy observation was a longer interval between the last COVID-19 infection and survey response among those with long COVID, hinting that earlier strains might be more likely to lead to prolonged symptoms.<br /><br />The study concludes with recommendations for providing targeted support to healthcare workers suffering from long COVID symptoms and emphasizes the need for ongoing research to understand risk factors and develop effective interventions. Despite its merits, the cross-sectional nature and low response rate (15.2%) limit the study's generalizability. Future studies should explore causal relationships to better inform treatment and support strategies.

Keywords

prolonged COVID-19 recovery

healthcare workers

Boston

long-term symptoms

quality of life

depression and anxiety

mental health

survey study

risk factors

interventions