Mirage News
Mirage NewsScience27 Jul 2026 8:04 pm AESTDate Time
King’s College London
Poor sleep, fatigue and anxiety remained common after COVID-19 restrictions ended, according to new research led by King’s College London and Flinders University
Published in the Journal of Sleep Research, the study is one of the first large-scale longitudinal studies to examine whether sleep problems experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic improved after lockdown restrictions were lifted
Around 1.9 million people in the UK are estimated to be living with self-reported long COVID symptoms lasting more than four weeks after a confirmed or suspected infection, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing the long-term health impacts of the pandemic
Researchers found that disrupted sleep and fatigue remained common after restrictions ended, regardless of whether people had contracted COVID-19 or reported post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS), also known as long COVID
The team analysed questionnaire responses from 2,390 participants in the UK COVID Symptom Study Biobank. Participants completed surveys in 2021 during lockdown restrictions and again in 2022 after restrictions had ended, reporting on their sleep, fatigue, depression and anxiety
The findings showed that, even after accounting for other factors, high levels of poor sleep and fatigue persisted across the community after the pandemic
Emma Duncan, Professor of Clinical Endocrinology at King’s, co-founder of the COVID Symptom Study Biobank and co-senior author, said: “The high levels of both poor sleep and fatigue established during lockdowns persisted after restrictions were lifted – independent of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or whether individuals reported having Post-COVID Syndrome.”
Our data fit with results from around the world – that the experience of the pandemic itself was associated with sleep disturbance globally
Emma Duncan, Professor of Clinical Endocrinology, co-founder of the COVID Symptom Study Biobank and co-senior author
Sleep disturbance has been linked to a range of health consequences, including reduced immunity, increased inflammation and poorer mental health, affecting mood, cognition and depression
Sutapa Mukherjee, Professor in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Flinders University and co-senior author, said: “We knew from pre-pandemic clinical experience that once sleep disturbance is present, it is unlikely to improve without intervention
“Given the high prevalence of both sleep disturbance and fatigue in some people after the COVID shutdowns, addressing sleep disturbance may be part of a patient’s long-term recovery and wellbeing.”
We recommend routine assessment of sleep for people presenting with persistent post-pandemic fatigue, including those with persistent symptoms associated with Post-COVID Syndrome
Sutapa Mukherjee, Professor in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Flinders University and co-senior author
The researchers suggest that addressing sleep disturbances could be an important part of supporting recovery for people with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome, where fatigue remains a commonly reported symptom. Effective approaches to improving sleep may help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life
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