We're sleeping more, but not better, during the Covid-19 pandemic

More than 200 delegates have already registered for the Summer Webinar of the National Pharmaceutical Congress: "Pharma's Purpose, People & Process Post-Covid. Who Will Thrive? Who Will Be Left Behind?" Featured panellists are Ronnie Miller, Hoffman-La Roche; Mike Egli, Aspen Healthcare Canada; Claude Perron, Amicus Therapeutics; Danielle Portnik, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals; Peter Brenders, Kontollo Health [lead panellist]; Mitch Shannon, Chronicle Companies [host.] Mark the date of Tuesday, June 23, 11:00 to noon (EDT.) Registration is free. Space is limited. Sign up here.

⇒ Issue #54
⇒ Confirmed Covid cases in Canada as of 06/15: 100,404*
⇒ Confirmed Covid fatalities in Canada as of 06/15: 8,218*
⇒ Worldwide Covid cases as of 06/15: 7,934,277*
⇒ Worldwide Covid fatalities as of 06/15: 443,919*

June 15, 2020—Good morning from the historic Junction neighbourhood of Toronto; it's Chronicle assistant editor Dhiren Mahiban with your Monday edition of the Daily CurveFlattener. I hope everyone had a good weekend and got some quality shut-eye. 

According to researchers at the University of Basel, while most of us are sleeping longer and more regularly, our sleep quality has deteriorated during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Investigators at the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel studied 435 individuals in an effort to research how sleep has changed during the coronavirus pandemic and found that though most reported sleeping longer, the quality of sleep did not improve. 

Published online ahead of print the journal Current Biology (June 11, 2020) researchers studied sleep behaviour in a six-week online survey. 

Research led by Dr. Christine Blume surveyed individuals in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. More than 85 per cent of respondents were working from home. 

The survey found more flexible work hours led to a reduction in "social jet-lag." 

"This suggests that the sleep-wake patterns of those surveyed were guided by internal biological signals rather than social rhythms," Dr. Blume said in a press release. 

Of those surveyed, 75 per cent admitted to sleeping up to 50 minutes longer than prior to the lockdown. 

The reduction of "social jet-lag" did not result in an improvement in sleep quality. Those surveyed reported that their sleep quality actually deteriorated a little during the lockdown. 

Dr. Blume said the finding is not surprising because the unprecedented nature of pandemic has been burdening in many ways. 

Researchers suggest physical activity outdoors could counteract a deterioration in sleep quality. 

COVID CHRONICLE 06/15/2020

• A letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine (June 12, 2020) suggests that Covid-19 may trigger the onset of diabetes in healthy people and also cause severe complications of pre-existing diabetes. 
• According to research conducted at Massey University in New Zealand, and published in the journal Frontiers in Communication (June 12, 2020), the novel coronavirus pandemic which originated in China has created a backlash in the United States against Asian Americans. Researchers found a strong correlation between the pandemic, social media use and prejudice. 
• A study led by MIT researchers used a variety of data on consumer business activity to determine which businesses should be open during the Covid-19 pandemic. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (June 12, 2020), the study measured 26 types of businesses by their usefulness and risk. Vital forms of commerce that are relatively uncrowded fared best in the study. Less significant types of businesses that generate crowds performed worse. The researchers hope the results will help inform the policy decisions of government officials during the ongoing pandemic. 

STORIES CHRONICLE IS WORKING ON TODAY

Over at Derm.City my colleague John Evans has a post up on five tips for patients to manage nail psoriasis. The recommendations released recently by the American Academy of Dermatology can help patients reduce pain, allow them to perform their daily activities, and make their nails look normal. 

RIGHT NOW WE ARE LISTENING TO... 

Episode 395 of the Longform podcast featuring Wesley Lowery, the author of 'They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement'. 

LATER WE'RE READING...

This week we're reading 'The Elephant in the Room: One Fat Man's Quest to Get Smaller in a Growing America' by Tommy Tomilinson. Tomlinson chronicles his lifelong battle with weight issues while offering a candid look at the everyday experience of constantly being aware of your size. 

TONIGHT WE'RE EATING... 

After cooking this chicken penne florentine recipe over the weekend, we've got plenty of leftovers. 

AND HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Please make use of the comments section at the Daily CurveFlattener, to let us know what you're up to today. Or feel free to check in via LinkedIn, email, or your choice of connector. By all means, pass this newsletter along to your colleagues.

That's it. Stay in touch, stay safe. My colleague Jeremy Visser will be around tomorrow with your Tuesday edition of the Daily CurveFlattener.