Doctors with burnout or sleep problems face increased risks of developing COVID-19 and have a longer recovery time, a US study suggests.

Those reporting ‘daily burnout’ faced more than twice the risk of contracting the disease and three times the chance of a longer recovery, the research in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health shows.

Those with three sleep issues — difficulty sleeping at night, taking sleeping pills and disrupted sleep — had 88% higher risk of developing COVID-19, compared to those with no sleep problems, according to a survey of almost 2900 healthcare workers, 95% of whom were doctors.

Each one-hour increase in sleep was linked to a 12% lower chance of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2.