NeurologyAdvisor: A new editorial published in the Journal of Sleep Research highlights recent study findings regarding sleep disturbances in the ICU, the effects of wind turbine sounds on sleep quality, the impact shift-scheduling rules have on shift workers’ sleep, and the association between prenatal maternal sleep, long-term anxiety, and postpartum depression.
The first study examined the effects of nocturnal nursing interventions, such as the assessment of vital signs, on sleep quality in patients admitted to the ICU. Nursing interventions were not found to be the most frequent cause of sleep disruptions in these patients, suggesting other factors in the ICU may contribute to poor sleep. As such, the study researchers noted that additional analyses are needed to determine which nocturnal nursing interventions are necessary and which interventions can be reserved for daytime hours.
In another study, researchers evaluated weather sleeping near wind turbines impacted objective and subjective sleep assessments. The study, which was a meta-analysis of 5 studies and systematic review of 9 studies, found wind turbine noise did not significantly impact objective sleep continuity parameters, including sleep onset latency, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, or post-sleep waking. Despite these findings, the study researchers concluded the heterogeneous methodology in the assessed studies may limit the overall interpretation of the results.
