Since the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, it has been declared a pandemic and has now involved over 200 countries.

Adverse effects on the mental health of frontline healthcare workers (HCW) has been at the forefront of concerns, with insomnia being one of the most commonly reported symptom.

Because of the fundamental role that sleep plays in emotion regulation and body homeostasis, sleep disturbance can have direct consequences on both emotional functioning and wellbeing.

As physician well being and patient safety are inextricably linked, it is imperative that we address sleep health for the sake of physicians and their patients.

Over 1,200 HCWs from 34 hospitals in China dealing with COVID-19 were surveyed for mental health and sleep problems in a recent cross sectional, survey-based, region-stratified study.

Frontline workers involved in direct care of patients with COVID-19 were associated with the highest risk of insomnia, followed by depression, anxiety, and distress.

These self-reported symptoms were higher among nurses, women, and frontline HCWs, and in geographical areas with higher case infection rates.

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