ABSTRACT
Rong-fang Hu, Xiao-ying Jiang, Yi-ming Zeng, Xiao-yang Chen, You-hua
Zhang
Introduction: Environmental stimulus, especially noise and light, is
thought to disrupt sleep in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This
study aimed to determine the physiological and psychological effects of ICU
noise and light, and of earplugs and eye masks, used in these conditions in
healthy subjects.
Methods: Fourteen subjects underwent polysomnography under four
conditions: adaptation, baseline, exposure to recorded ICU noise and light
(NL), and NL plus use of earplugs and eye masks (NLEE). Urine was analyzed for melatonin
and cortisol levels. Subjects rated their perceived sleep quality, anxiety
levels and perception of environmental stimuli.
Results: Subjects had poorer perceived sleep quality, more light
sleep, longer rapid eye movement (REM) latency, less REM sleep when exposed to
simulated ICU noise and light (P < 0.05). Nocturnal melatonin (P = 0.007)
and cortisol secretion levels (P = 0.004) differed significantly by condition
but anxiety levels did not (P = 0.06). Use of earplugs and eye masks resulted
in more REM time, shorter REM latency, less arousal (P < 0.05) and elevated melatonin
levels (P = 0.002).
Conclusions: Earplugs and eye masks promote sleep and hormone
balance in healthy subjects exposed to simulated ICU noise and light, making
their promotion in ICU patients reasonable. (Crit Care. 2010; 14(2): R66)
Full Text: CLICK HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment