Sleep and cardiorespiratory function assessed by a smart bed over 10 weeks post COVID-19 infection

• Published in: Scientific reports 2025-01, Vol.15 (1), p.2724, Article 2724
• Main Authors: Garcia-Molina, Gary, Guzenko, Dmytro, DeFranco, Susan, Aloia, Mark S., Mills, Rajasi, Mushtaq, Faisal, Somers, Virend K., Van Cauter, Eve
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/166/985; 692/699/255/2514; 692/700/478/2772; Body mass index; Bradycardia; COVID-19; Heart rate; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Physiology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sleep
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87069-6

Inadequate information exists regarding physiological changes post-COVID-19 infection. We used smart beds to record biometric data following COVID-19 infection in nonhospitalized patients. Recordings of daily biometric signals over 14 weeks in 59 COVID-positive participants’ homes in 2020 were compared with the same participants’ data from 2019. Participants completed a survey of demographic information, health conditions, COVID exposure and testing, and symptom prevalence/subjective severity. Mean age was 47.5 years (standard deviation [SD] 9.5), mean body mass index was 30.1 kg/m 2 (SD 7.1), and 46% were men. During acute infection, 64% exhibited 5–6 h increased sleep duration, 51% had increased movement, and 64% had increased breathing rate (BR). Nearly 34% had paradoxical bradycardia (decreased heart rate by ~ 10 BPM concomitant with elevated BR and/or fever), with more-severe symptoms. Smart beds can detect physiological changes during COVID-19. A subtype of acute response (paradoxical bradycardia) may predict delay recovery from COVID-19.