Brain Sleep Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kosuke Michibata; hereinafter "Brain Sleep") conducted a survey of 1,000 employed individuals (1,000 people allocated by gender and age) in seven prefectures (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka) where the state of emergency was declared early, to understand how people's work styles have changed due to the impact of the new coronavirus and what effects this has had. The results showed that for many people whose work styles changed, sleep quality decreased, and both bedtime and wake-up times shifted later, indicating a transition to a "night owl" pattern. Despite being aware, actual sleep quality declined, shifting to a "night owl" pattern with later bedtimes and wake-up times. While 32.8% of all respondents reported a change in sleep duration before and after the impact of the new coronavirus, it was found that 44.3% of those whose work styles changed experienced a change in sleep duration. For many people whose work styles changed, sleep duration increased, but there was a tendency for bedtime and wake-up times to shift later, transitioning to a "night owl" pattern. In particular, the tendency for wake-up times to be later was prominent. Regarding changes in sleep quality before and after the impact of the new coronavirus, it was found that subjective sleep quality deteriorated for 11.1% of all respondents. Particularly, it was found that a significantly higher percentage of people whose work styles changed felt their sleep quality had decreased compared to those whose work styles did not change. Even though people whose work styles changed are sleeping longer, the sudden change in environment may have led to a night owl lifestyle, shifting their biological rhythms and potentially reducing their sleep quality. In addition, other symptoms reported as appearing after the impact of the new coronavirus that were not present before, besides "difficulty sleeping," included "dizziness," "stiff neck and shoulders," "eye strain," "lack of appetite," and "brain fatigue." Many of these non-insomnia symptoms may also be mutually affecting each other. ～Advice for boosting immunity through sleep～ During sleep, the body undergoes repairs that cannot be done while awake. In addition to relieving drowsiness and fatigue, sleep regulates the autonomic nervous system and hormone balance, thereby maintaining the body's condition. Furthermore, sleep plays diverse roles such as boosting immunity, consolidating and organizing memories, and removing waste products from the brain. It has been shown that inappropriate sleep increases the risk of various diseases. Sleep deprivation also increases the incidence of colds and influenza, and there are reports that even with an influenza vaccine, antibodies are less likely to form if one doesn't get enough sleep. Sleep and wakefulness are two sides of the same coin; good sleep already begins in the morning, and a good awakening can enhance daily performance, ultimately leading to good sleep. Under the state of emergency, it is important for families to strive for a regular lifestyle, maintain their daily rhythm, and obtain quality sleep to boost their immunity. (Seiji Nishino, Stanford University) COVID-19 Response Activities: Launching the YouTube channel "Sleepedia: Gifting the Best Sleep" Since its establishment 11 months ago, Brain Sleep has been working with the vision of "Sleep Revolution to Eliminate Sleep Debt," aiming to help people live "the happiest life" by achieving "the best sleep." Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, where rapid changes in lifestyle are enforced, better sleep has become more necessary than ever. With the desire to deliver accurate information as quickly as possible, and with the cooperation of researchers and medical professionals from Stanford University on the West Coast of the United States, we have launched the YouTube channel "Sleepedia: Gifting the Best Sleep." Among the researchers and medical professionals conducting sleep research, there are various specialists including psychiatrists, neurologists, cardiologists, otolaryngologists, dentists, sports medicine specialists, ophthalmologists, immunologists, neurosurgeons, and occupational medicine specialists. We are creating videos from each of their specialized perspectives. Please make use of this information, and let's overcome this situation together. (Seiji Nishino) [Urgent Exclusive Interview] Release Date: Monday, April 27, 2020 ①~Prologue~ 8 Infection Prevention Measures to Survive COVID-19: "Sleep × Exercise × Diet" as Taught by a World Authority https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2W7KpKZ8KA ② Professor Seiji Nishino of Stanford University on "The Surprising Relationship Between Sleep and Immunity" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTm32Z_4avc Seiji Nishino M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine; Director, Stanford University Sleep & Circadian Neurobiology Lab Founder, Brain Sleep Co., Ltd. Certified Psychiatrist, Certified Sleep Specialist, Japanese Society of Sleep Research [Survey Outline] *Brain Sleep can provide various information regarding this survey. Survey Name: "Survey on Lifestyle Questionnaire" Target: 1,000 employed individuals (men and women, aged 20-69) in seven prefectures where a state of emergency was declared early (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka) Survey Dates: Friday, April 17, 2020 – Monday, April 20, 2020 Method: Internet survey *For percentage comparisons in this survey, the chi-square (χ2) test was performed to assess frequency, and for comparisons of mean values between groups, the t-test was performed. A significance level of 5% or less was determined to be a statistically significant difference and noted as such. 56.4% of respondents experienced changes in work style, primarily "remote work (including working from home)" and "staggered working hours." The most common change in work style was remote work (including working from home) at 32.7%, followed by staggered working hours at 26.2%. 7.6% of people were on temporary leave/temporary layoff. 56.4% of all respondents experienced some change in work style, while 43.6% reported no change. Among the seven prefectures, Tokyo had the highest percentage of respondents who reported changes in work style, at 64.9%. Productivity trending downward due to changes in work style A decline in productivity was observed as a consequence of changes in work styles. Overall, it was evident that productivity significantly decreased before and after the impact of the coronavirus. In particular, the decline in productivity was remarkable for those whose work styles changed, resulting in a 25.4-point drop before and after the impact. 28.5% of people are not living a regular life due to changes in their environment. While maintaining a regular lifestyle is recommended, it appears to be difficult in reality due to sudden environmental changes. Regardless of whether their work style changed, 28.5% of all respondents reported not being able to live a regular life. Among them, 31.7% of people whose work styles changed reported not being able to live a regular life, which was significantly higher than the 24.0% of people whose work styles did not change. This suggests that changes in work styles are affecting daily rhythms. "Getting enough sleep" is the top measure for improving immunity. Improving immunity is extremely important as a countermeasure against the coronavirus. It was found that 81.5% of all respondents are implementing measures to boost their immunity that can be done at home, even though it has become difficult to maintain a regular lifestyle. The most common measure implemented was "getting enough sleep" at 63.0% (multiple answers allowed), followed by "eating a healthy diet" at 60.3% (multiple answers allowed), and "getting moderate exercise" at 31.1% (multiple answers allowed). Other minority opinions included "taking supplements." On the other hand, when looking at the presence or absence of changes in work style, 25.7% of people whose work styles did not change reported not taking any immunity-boosting measures. Conversely, the percentage of people whose work styles changed and were not taking measures was only 13.3%, indicating that those whose work styles changed were more consciously taking measures to improve their immunity.
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