Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant challenge to the global organization of health systems. The reallocation and concentration of available resources on the management of COVID-19 had a significant impact on all other health conditions due to the suspension or cancellation of screening and routine examinations, the reduction of referrals, and the redistribution of staff. The management of central disorders of hypersomnolence was also negatively affected, although some evidence has debated the role of the pandemic, which may have represented not only a challenge but also an opportunity for people with central disorders of hypersomnolence. On the one hand, the loss of zeitgebers as a result of changes in patients’ routines during the lockdown period, such as working from home, spending extended periods indoors, and a reduction in social interactions, could have worsened the management of these disorders. On the other hand, prolonged home confinement during the pandemic may have afforded more opportunities to implement the recommended behavioral strategies for reducing excessive daytime sleepiness and maintaining a more flexible sleep schedule. Consequently, the purpose of this chapter is to describe the most significant findings from studies examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on central sleep disorders, with a particular emphasis on narcolepsy.
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Varallo, G., Franceschini, C., Plazzi, G. (2023). What Happened to Central Disorders of Hypersomnolence During the COVID-19 Pandemic?. In: BaHammam, A., Pandi-Perumal, S.R., Jahrami, H. (eds) COVID-19 and Sleep: A Global Outlook. Progress in Sleep Research. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0240-8_15
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