Sleep quality in non-hospitalized medical students after COVID-19 infection in Northern Vietnam

Sleep disorders are among the most commonly reported symptoms following a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Medical students, in particular, are highly vulnerable, exhibiting a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality compared to the general population. This study aimed to compare sleep quality between medical students with and without a history of COVID-19 infection and to identify factors associated with poor sleep quality in the infected group. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at a university in Northern Vietnam, with data collected via an online self-administered questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed using the Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), where higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Of the 673 participants, 372 (55.3%) had a history of COVID-19 infection, while 301 (44.7%) did not. Students with a history of COVID-19 infection demonstrated significantly poorer sleep quality compared to those without (p < 0.01). Among the infected group, poorer sleep quality was significantly associated with younger age (coefficient [coef]: -1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.74 to -0.27), female gender (coef: 3.05; 95% CI: 0.11 to 6.00), living with others (coef: 3.12; 95% CI: 0.42 to 5.81), and a longer duration of COVID-19 infection (coef: 6.84; 95% CI: 2.21 to 11.47). These findings underscore the significant burden of sleep disorders among medical students following COVID-19 infection and highlight the importance of early detection and intervention to mitigate long-term consequences.