About this Research Topic
Sleep and circadian processes are severely disrupted in critically ill patients. Sleep in the intensive care unit (ICU) is shorter than normal, predominantly “light” (i.e., stage N1 or N2), and much of it occurs during the day. Circadian alignment and amplitude are also disrupted in the ICU, particularly in septic patients. These sleep and circadian disruptions likely result from a large array of factors including, but not limited to the following: individual patient characteristics (risk factors), acute critical illness, the hospital environment, and medical treatment effects. Acute sleep and circadian disruption are known to cause significant cognitive, metabolic, immune and cardiovascular derangements in animal and human models. It is hypothesized that sleep and circadian disruption are significant contributors to ICU delirium and other ICU outcomes.
Though sleep and circadian disruption are increasingly recognized as an important ICU problem, there remain many unknowns in this area of active investigation. It is our goal to (1) improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of sleep and circadian disruption in critically ill patients; (2) identify modifiable factors in the development of sleep and circadian disruption; (3) establish the impact of sleep and circadian disruption on ICU outcomes; and (4) evaluate treatment modalities for sleep and circadian disruption in ICU patients.
We are seeking original research articles that address the above listed goals. Of interest are articles relevant to the following themes as they relate to sleep and / or circadian disruption (SCD) in critically ill patients:
• Pre-hospital risk factors for the development of SCD
• Critical illness related risk factors for the development of SCD
• Hospital environmental factors contributing to the development of SCD
• The impact of SCD on metabolic, immune and cardiovascular function
• The impact of SCD on ICU delirium
• Non-pharmacologic treatment of SCD
• Pharmacologic treatment of SCD
• SCD related critical illness outcomes
• Tools to measure SCD in the ICU setting
Articles including medical, cardiac, surgical, neurologic, and pediatric ICUS are welcome.
Though sleep and circadian disruption are increasingly recognized as an important ICU problem, there remain many unknowns in this area of active investigation. It is our goal to (1) improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of sleep and circadian disruption in critically ill patients; (2) identify modifiable factors in the development of sleep and circadian disruption; (3) establish the impact of sleep and circadian disruption on ICU outcomes; and (4) evaluate treatment modalities for sleep and circadian disruption in ICU patients.
We are seeking original research articles that address the above listed goals. Of interest are articles relevant to the following themes as they relate to sleep and / or circadian disruption (SCD) in critically ill patients:
• Pre-hospital risk factors for the development of SCD
• Critical illness related risk factors for the development of SCD
• Hospital environmental factors contributing to the development of SCD
• The impact of SCD on metabolic, immune and cardiovascular function
• The impact of SCD on ICU delirium
• Non-pharmacologic treatment of SCD
• Pharmacologic treatment of SCD
• SCD related critical illness outcomes
• Tools to measure SCD in the ICU setting
Articles including medical, cardiac, surgical, neurologic, and pediatric ICUS are welcome.
Keywords: sleep, circadian, delirium, critical illness
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
