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Cycled Lighting Versus Continuous Near Darkness in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Sema Arayici1, Gulsum Kadioglu Simsek2, Nurdan Uras3
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
Klinische Padiatrie
|September 1, 2021
Summary
Cycled lighting (CL) and continuous near darkness (CND) showed no significant difference in preterm infant weight outcomes. Both lighting strategies were equally effective for infant growth and development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric endocrinology
Background:
- Preterm infants require specialized care to optimize growth and development.
- Lighting environments in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) may influence infant outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of cycled lighting (CL) versus continuous near darkness (CND) on weight and other key outcomes in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- 147 preterm infants (gestational age 25-32 weeks or birth weight 750-1500g) were allocated to CL or CND groups.
- Key outcomes measured included weight, temperature, hormone levels (growth hormone, cortisol, melatonin), feeding time, ventilation duration, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and length of stay.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed between CL and CND groups in weight at various time points (day 14, 35 weeks PMA, 3 & 6 months corrected age).
- Anthropometric parameters, rectal temperature, serum hormone levels, feeding, ventilation, ROP incidence, and hospital length of stay were similar between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Neither cycled lighting nor continuous near darkness demonstrated a significant advantage over the other for preterm infant growth and development.
- The choice between CL and CND may not critically impact key neonatal outcomes.
