Status of the practice of sleep medicine in India during COVID-19 pandemic.

Kanchan, Shweta; Saini, Lokesh Kumar; Daga, Ritu; Arora, Pankaj; Gupta, Ravi

STUDY OBJECTIVES Like other medical branches, the practice of sleep medicine has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the actual impact is not known. This study was planned to assess the status of the practice of sleep medicine in India during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. METHODS This was an online questionnaire-based descriptive study. A 25-item questionnaire was developed to assess the functioning of sleep laboratories, use of telemedicine, and positive airway pressure therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The questionnaire was sent to the sleep physicians of two major sleep medicine societies of India. Responses were analyzed. RESULTS In this study, the response rate was 64.6%. During this pandemic, 72% of physicians reported that they had closed sleep laboratory while 24% reported shifting to home sleep apnea testing. Only half of the sleep physicians confirmed awareness of the disinfection guidelines proposed by AASM to prevent COVID-19 infection in the sleep laboratory. However, almost all of them reported taking preventive measures like the use of protective gear. 61% of physicians advised mitigating strategies as a temporary measure to their patients of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 58.6% opined that auto-PAP might be used for uncomplicated OSA without diagnostic polysomnography during the pandemic. 84% of physicians reported that they were continuing their services through telemedicine facility. Physicians reported that consultations for insomnia and circadian rhythm sleep disorders increased during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Sleep laboratories were reportedly closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and most of the sleep physicians were providing services through telemedicine. The majority reported that auto-PAP without diagnostic polysomnography could be an effective option for uncomplicated OSA. Consultation for insomnia and circadian rhythm sleep disorders reportedly increased during the lockdown.