The effect of light on sleep quality and physiological parameters in patients in the intensive care unit

If patients in the intensive care unit are constantly exposed to artificial light, various problems related to sleep, and circadian rhythm may develop.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of light in the ICU on sleep quality and physiological parameters of patients.

Experimental and randomized-controlled trial.

The study was conducted in the ICU of a training and research hospital between May 2019-March 2021. The patients hospitalized in the ICU constituted the population of the study, and 148 patients constituted the sample calculated by power analysis. In individuals allocated into the experimental and control groups according to randomization, a cyclic lighting system was organized in isolation rooms for the experimental group, and a standard ICU lighting system was used in the control group.

The durations of deep sleep, light sleep and total sleep in the experimental group were statistically significantly higher compared to the control group (P < .05). No statistically significant difference was found in terms of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, peak heart rate and body temperature values in the experimental and control groups according to 48-hour sleep duration (P > .05). The 48-hour respiratory rate values in the ICU were statistically significantly higher in the control group compared to the experimental group (P < .05).

It was determined that the light in the ICU affected the sleep quality and physiological parameters of individuals. It is recommended to make environmental arrangements for light according to human biorhythm and to reduce exposure to artificial light in order to increase sleep quality and sleep duration in the ICU.

NCT0466142.