Study links past COVID-19 infection to altered breathing response during sleep

A study led by researchers at Koç University has investigated whether a history of COVID-19 infection influences the physiological mechanisms associated with obstructive sleep apnea. The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, compared 60 individuals with a history of COVID-19 to 60 control participants.

The findings suggest that while COVID-19 does not appear to cause meaningful changes in most key physiological traits related to sleep apnea, there is one notable exception: individuals who previously had COVID-19 demonstrated a stronger breathing response following brief arousals from sleep.

This research follows broader observations regarding the long-term effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which can include persistent fatigue, breathing difficulties, and neurological symptoms often referred to as long COVID.