Noise Levels and Sleep in a Surgical ICU

Abstract

Sleep is disturbed in critically ill patients and is a frequently overlooked complication. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of sound levels in our surgical ICU on our patients’ sleep on the first night of admission. The study was performed in a tertiary care university hospital, in a 12-bed surgical ICU. Over a 6-week period, a total of 148 adult, non-intubated and non-sedated patients completed the study. During this six-week period, sound levels were continuously measured using a type II sound level meter. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Richards–Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), which was completed both by patients and nurses on the first morning after admission. A non-significant correlation was found between night sound levels and sleep quality in the overall sample (r = −1.83, 95% CI; −4.54 to 0.88, p = 0.19). After multivariable analysis, a correlation was found between higher sound levels at night and lower RCSQ evaluations (r = −3.92, 95% CI; −7.57 to −0.27, p = 0.04). We found a significant correlation between lower sound levels at night and a better quality of sleep in our patients; for each 1 dBA increase in LAFeq sound levels at night, patients scored 3.92 points lower on the sleep questionnaire.

Relationship between noise levels and intensive care patients' clinical complexity: An observational simulation study

“…1,11,12 High noise levels impact patients' sleep quality and often require supplemental sedation, with the risk of developing anxiety, delirium and other physiological and psychological consequences, thus increasing hospital length of stay, mortality and long-term sequelae. 8,11,[13][14][15][16] Long-term exposure to high-level noise also affects healthcare workers, inducing cardiovascular responses, such as tachycardia and hypertension, headaches, anxiety, irritation, fatigue, stress and even job dissatisfaction and burnout. [17][18][19] Excessive noise levels may interfere with clinicians' ability to concentrate, increasing the risk of potential errors.…”

“…Patients discharged from the ICU describe noise and disrupted sleep as negative experiences 1,11,12 . High noise levels impact patients' sleep quality and often require supplemental sedation, with the risk of developing anxiety, delirium and other physiological and psychological consequences, thus increasing hospital length of stay, mortality and long‐term sequelae 8,11,13–16 …”