Melissa Knauert1, Sangchoon Jeon2, Terrence E Murphy3, H Klar Yaggi4, Margaret A Pisani5, Nancy S Redeker6. 1. Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: melissa.knauert@yale.edu. 2. Yale School of Nursing, West Haven, CT. Electronic address: sangchoon.jeon@yale.edu. 3. Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: terrence.murphy@yale.edu. 4. Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: henry.yaggi@yale.edu. 5. Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: margaret.pisani@yale.edu. 6. Yale School of Nursing, West Haven, CT. Electronic address: nancy.redeker@yale.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Sound levels in the intensive care unit (ICU) are universally elevated and are believed to contribute to sleep and circadian disruption. The purpose of this study is to compare overnight ICU sound levels and peak occurrence on A- vs C-weighted scales. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of overnight sound levels in 59 medical ICU patient rooms. Sound level was recorded every 10 seconds on A- and C-weighted decibel scales. Equivalent sound level (Leq) and sound peaks were reported for full and partial night periods. RESULTS: The overnight A-weighted Leq of 53.6 dBA was well above World Health Organization recommendations; overnight C-weighted Leq was 63.1 dBC (no World Health Organization recommendations). Peak sound occurrence ranged from 1.8 to 23.3 times per hour. Illness severity, mechanical ventilation, and delirium were not associated with Leq or peak occurrence. Equivalent sound level and peak measures for A- and C-weighted decibel scales were significantly different from each other. CONCLUSIONS: Sound levels in the medical ICU are high throughout the night. Patient factors were not associated with Leq or peak occurrence. Significant discordance between A- and C-weighted values suggests that low-frequency sound is a meaningful factor in the medical ICU environment.
PURPOSE: Sound levels in the intensive care unit (ICU) are universally elevated and are believed to contribute to sleep and circadian disruption. The purpose of this study is to compare overnight ICU sound levels and peak occurrence on A- vs C-weighted scales. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of overnight sound levels in 59 medical ICU patient rooms. Sound level was recorded every 10 seconds on A- and C-weighted decibel scales. Equivalent sound level (Leq) and sound peaks were reported for full and partial night periods. RESULTS: The overnight A-weighted Leq of 53.6 dBA was well above World Health Organization recommendations; overnight C-weighted Leq was 63.1 dBC (no World Health Organization recommendations). Peak sound occurrence ranged from 1.8 to 23.3 times per hour. Illness severity, mechanical ventilation, and delirium were not associated with Leq or peak occurrence. Equivalent sound level and peak measures for A- and C-weighted decibel scales were significantly different from each other. CONCLUSIONS: Sound levels in the medical ICU are high throughout the night. Patient factors were not associated with Leq or peak occurrence. Significant discordance between A- and C-weighted values suggests that low-frequency sound is a meaningful factor in the medical ICU environment.
Authors: Marcus T Altman; Catherine Pulaski; Francis Mburu; Margaret A Pisani; Melissa P Knauert Journal: Heart Lung Date: 2018-08-22 Impact factor: 2.210
Authors: Melissa P Knauert; Margaret Pisani; Nancy Redeker; Terry Murphy; Katy Araujo; Sangchoon Jeon; Henry Yaggi Journal: BMJ Open Respir Res Date: 2019-06-07
Authors: Omid Azimaraghi; Maximilian Hammer; Peter Santer; Katharina Platzbecker; Friederike C Althoff; Maria Patrocinio; Stephanie D Grabitz; Karuna Wongtangman; Sandra Rumyantsev; Xinling Xu; Maximilian S Schaefer; Patrick M Fuller; Balachundhar Subramaniam; Matthias Eikermann Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-07-19 Impact factor: 2.692