Ambient light levels and critical care outcomes
Avelino C Verceles1, Xinggang Liu, Michael L Terrin
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Avercele@medicine.umaryland.edu
Journal of Critical Care
|July 6, 2012
Summary
Room orientation in intensive care units did not impact patient mortality or sedative use, despite variations in natural light. Further research is needed to confirm the necessity of windows for optimal critical care environments.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Environmental Health
- Hospital Design
Background:
- Critical care unit design guidelines recommend windows for natural light.
- Evidence supporting the impact of natural light on clinical outcomes is limited.
- This study examines the association between ambient light levels and patient outcomes in a medical intensive care unit (MICU).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between ambient light levels and clinical outcomes in a MICU.
- To assess the association of room orientation and light levels with sedative, analgesic, and neuroleptic use.
- To evaluate the evidence for current guidelines on natural light in critical care settings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 3577 patients admitted to a tertiary care facility's MICU.
- Analysis of clinical outcomes and sedative use based on MICU room orientation and ambient light levels.
- Data collected from April 2006 to June 2009.
Main Results:
- Ambient light levels varied across the four room orientations but were generally low.
- No significant differences were found in MICU mortality, hospital mortality, or 28-day intensive care unit-free days across room orientations.
- No significant differences in 28-day ventilator-free days or intravenous sedative/analgesic use were observed between room orientations.
Conclusions:
- Room orientation and associated ambient light levels were not linked to critical care outcomes.
- The findings suggest that windows alone may not be sufficient for effective light management in MICUs.
- Current guidelines regarding the necessity of windows for ambient lighting in critical care units may require re-evaluation.
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