Anders West1, Poul Jennum2, Sofie Amalie Simonsen1, Birgit Sander3, Milena Pavlova4, Helle K Iversen1. 1. a Clinical Stroke Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Rigshospitalet , Glostrup , Denmark. 2. b Danish Center for Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurophysiology Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Rigshospitalet , Glostrup , Denmark. 3. c Department of Ophthalmology , Copenhagen University Hospital , Rigshospitalet , Glostrup , Denmark. 4. d Division of Epilepsy, Neurophysiology, and Sleep, Department of Neurology , Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE: Stroke is a major cause of acquired cerebral disability among adults, frequently accompanied by depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, disrupted sleep and fatigue. New ways of intervention to prevent these complications are therefore needed. The major circadian regulator, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, is mainly controlled by natural daylight, and the blue spectrum is considered the most powerful. During stroke rehabilitation, patients typically are mostly indoors and therefore not exposed to the natural daytime variation in light intensity. Furthermore, several rehabilitation hospitals may be exposed to powerful light in the blue spectrum, but at a time that is adversely related to their endogenous circadian phase, for example in the late evening instead of the daytime. HYPOTHESIS: Naturalistic light that mimics the natural daytime spectrum variation will have a positive impact on the health of poststroke patients admitted to rehabilitation. We test specifically for improved sleep and less fatigue (questionnaires, polysomnography, Actiwatch), improved well-being (questionnaires), lessen anxiety and depression (questionnaires), improved cognition (tests), stabilizing of the autonomous nervous system (ECG/HR, blood pressure, temperature) and stabilizing of the diurnal biochemistry (blood markers). STUDY DESIGN: The study is a prospective parallel longitudinal randomized controlled study (quasi randomization). Stroke patients in need of rehabilitation will be included at the acute stroke unit and randomized to either the intervention unit (naturalistic lighting) or the control unit (CU) (standard lighting). The naturalistic light is installed in the entire IU (Cromaviso, Denmark). CONCLUSION: This study aims to elucidate the influence of naturalistic light on patients during long-term hospitalization in a real hospital setting. The hypotheses are based on preclinical research, as studies using naturalistic light have never been performed before. Investigating the effects of naturalistic light in a clinical setting is therefore much needed.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE: Stroke is a major cause of acquired cerebral disability among adults, frequently accompanied by depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, disrupted sleep and fatigue. New ways of intervention to prevent these complications are therefore needed. The major circadian regulator, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, is mainly controlled by natural daylight, and the blue spectrum is considered the most powerful. During stroke rehabilitation, patients typically are mostly indoors and therefore not exposed to the natural daytime variation in light intensity. Furthermore, several rehabilitation hospitals may be exposed to powerful light in the blue spectrum, but at a time that is adversely related to their endogenous circadian phase, for example in the late evening instead of the daytime. HYPOTHESIS: Naturalistic light that mimics the natural daytime spectrum variation will have a positive impact on the health of poststroke patients admitted to rehabilitation. We test specifically for improved sleep and less fatigue (questionnaires, polysomnography, Actiwatch), improved well-being (questionnaires), lessen anxiety and depression (questionnaires), improved cognition (tests), stabilizing of the autonomous nervous system (ECG/HR, blood pressure, temperature) and stabilizing of the diurnal biochemistry (blood markers). STUDY DESIGN: The study is a prospective parallel longitudinal randomized controlled study (quasi randomization). Strokepatients in need of rehabilitation will be included at the acute stroke unit and randomized to either the intervention unit (naturalistic lighting) or the control unit (CU) (standard lighting). The naturalistic light is installed in the entire IU (Cromaviso, Denmark). CONCLUSION: This study aims to elucidate the influence of naturalistic light on patients during long-term hospitalization in a real hospital setting. The hypotheses are based on preclinical research, as studies using naturalistic light have never been performed before. Investigating the effects of naturalistic light in a clinical setting is therefore much needed.
Authors: Hongxing Chen; Guodong Zhang; Zhenhuan Wang; Siyuan Feng; Hansen Li Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-06 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Laura J Connolly; Shantha M W Rajaratnam; Gershon Spitz; Steven W Lockley; Jennie L Ponsford Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2021-07-15 Impact factor: 4.003