TY - GEN
T1 - Polysomnographic and subjective sleep assessment during sedation with dexmedetomidine or placebo, and the effect of sedation on melatonin concentration in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients
AU - Oxlund, Jakob
PY - 2023/12/4
Y1 - 2023/12/4
N2 - Background: Lack of circadian rhythm and sleep disturbances are common in the intensive care unit
and are associated with altered cognitive function, delirium and increased mortality in critically ill
patients, especially when mechanically ventilators. Therefore, sedation is often used, and in the
absence of a better alternative, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) agonists, such as Propofol or
Midazolam, are used. However, these sedatives lead to a lack of restorative sleep. Since sleep
monitoring is essential for preventing the above complications, subjective sleep assessment (SSV)
is often used. This is in the absence of better methods, as the validity has yet to be fully elucidated.
Study 3 aimed to compare and validate SSV with PSG as the hypothesis was that a poor agreement
between SSA and PSG was present and that an overestimation of total sleep time (TST) assessed
with SSV would occur.
Morphine, Midazolam, Propofol and Dexmedetomidine affect the concentration of circulating
hormones. These sedatives also affect the endocrine system by increasing or decreasing the concentration of the hormones circulating in the bloodstream. Some hormones involved are
catecholamines, cortisol, growth hormone and melatonin. The latter has never been thoroughly
investigated concerning sedation. Study 1 aimed to evaluate the effect of sedation on melatonin
concentration. Melatonin is an essential hormone in regulating the circadian rhythm, but whether
sedation affects this regulation is unknown. Therefore, the aim of study 1 was to evaluate the effect
of the melatonin concentration in the blood in critically ill patients randomized to sedation or nonsedation and to investigate the correlation with delirium. The hypothesis was that melatonin
concentration was suppressed, which correlated with an increased frequency of delirium.
Restorative sleep is essential, as mentioned above. Hence, study 2 aimed to evaluate the effect of
Dexmedetomidine on sleep quality and quantity using polysomnography (PSG), as the hypothesis
was that sleep quality and quantity increase in patients treated with Dexmedetomidine.
Methods: Study 1 was a sub-study to "Non-sedation or light sedation in critically ill, mechanically
ventilated patients," published in The New England Journal of Medicine. One-hundred consecutive
patients were randomized to sedation or non-sedation with a daily wake-up call (50 in each arm). 79
patients from the main study completed the sub-study (41 sedated and 38 non-sedated). All included
patients were randomized at the intensive care unit (ICU) at the hospital of southwest Jutland,
Denmark. Melatonin was measured thrice daily (3 am, 2 pm, and 10 pm) for four consecutive days,
starting on the second day upon randomization/intubation. Primary outcome: melatonin
concentration in sedated vs. non-sedated patients. Secondary outcome: risk of developing delirium
or non-medically induced (NMI) coma in sedated vs. non-sedated patients, assessed by CAM-ICU
(Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit).
30 consecutive patients were included in study 2, and the study was performed as a double-blinded,
randomized, placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups: 20 patients were treated with
dexmedetomidine and 10 with placebo. Two 16 h of polysomnography recordings were completed
for each patient on two consecutive nights. Patients were randomized to dexmedetomidine or
placebo after the first recording, thus providing a control recording for all patients.
Dexmedetomidine was administered during the second recording (6 pm – 6 am) and the objective
was to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine vs. placebo on sleep - quality and quantity. The
primary outcome was sleep quality, total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and REM sleep
determined by PSG. Secondary outcome was delirium and daytime function determined by CAM ICU (Confusion Assessment Method of the Intensive Care Unit) and physical activity. Alertness
and wakefulness determined by RASS (Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale).
Study 3 was a secondary analysis to study 2, and it included all 30 patients from study 2. The
attending nurse performed a subjective observer rating of sleep quantity, and this assessment was
compared to the PSG recordings and the primary outcome was the level of agreement between
SSA and PSG determined by Bland-Altman analysis. The secondary outcome was the overall
mean TST estimated by SSA compared to PSG in all study participants enrolled in the main study
during both study nights. Secondly to estimate TST for all study participants evaluated hourly
during both study nights, and thirdly to estimate TST assessed with SSA compared to PSG in study
participants sedated with dexmedetomidine during the second night and for study participants
treated with placebo or non-sedation the first and second nights. Results: Melatonin concentration in study 1 were suppressed in sedated patients compared to the
non-sedated. All patients showed an elevated peak melatonin concentration early in their ICU
admission (p=0.01). The risk of delirium or coma (NMI) was significantly inferior in the nonsedated group (OR 0,42 CI 0.27;0.66 p<0.0001). No significant relationship between delirium
development and suppressed melatonin concentration was shown in this study (OR 1.004 P=0.29
95% CI 0.997;1.010).
In study 2 Sleep efficiency was increased in the dexmedetomidine group by; 37.6% (29.7;45.6 95%
CI) vs. 3.7% (-11.4;18.8 95% CI) (p<0.001) and TST were extended by 271 min. (210;324 95% CI)
vs. 27 min. (-82;135 95% CI), (p<0.001). No significant difference in REM sleep, delirium,
physical activity, or RASS score was found except RASS night two.
In study 3 the level of agreement between SSA and PSG was low. The mean TST estimated by SSA
during the time interval 4.00 pm to 7.00 am was 481 minutes (428;534, 95% CI) vs. PSG at 437
minutes (386;488, 95% CI) (p=0.05). When sedated with dexmedetomidine, TST assessed using
SSA was 650 minutes (571;729, 95% CI) vs. PSG which was 588 minutes (531;645, 95% CI)
(p=0.56). In participants treated with placebo or non-sedation TST assessed with SSA was 397
minutes (343;450, 95% CI) vs. PSG at 362 minutes (302;422, 95% CI) vs. (p=0.17). Conclusion: In patients randomized to sedation or non-sedation, melatonin concentration was
suppressed in the sedated, critically ill ICU patients compared to non-sedated controls, and the
frequency of delirium development was elevated in these patients. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency were significantly increased, and REM sleep was not
eliminated, in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients randomized to dexmedetomidine
compared to a control PSG recording performed during non-sedation (standard care).
The level of agreement between SSA and PSG in the above-mentioned preexisting cohort data base
was low, and there was a significant overestimation of mean total sleep time. SSA should only be
used under the awareness that it is imprecise and overestimates total sleep time.
AB - Background: Lack of circadian rhythm and sleep disturbances are common in the intensive care unit
and are associated with altered cognitive function, delirium and increased mortality in critically ill
patients, especially when mechanically ventilators. Therefore, sedation is often used, and in the
absence of a better alternative, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) agonists, such as Propofol or
Midazolam, are used. However, these sedatives lead to a lack of restorative sleep. Since sleep
monitoring is essential for preventing the above complications, subjective sleep assessment (SSV)
is often used. This is in the absence of better methods, as the validity has yet to be fully elucidated.
Study 3 aimed to compare and validate SSV with PSG as the hypothesis was that a poor agreement
between SSA and PSG was present and that an overestimation of total sleep time (TST) assessed
with SSV would occur.
Morphine, Midazolam, Propofol and Dexmedetomidine affect the concentration of circulating
hormones. These sedatives also affect the endocrine system by increasing or decreasing the concentration of the hormones circulating in the bloodstream. Some hormones involved are
catecholamines, cortisol, growth hormone and melatonin. The latter has never been thoroughly
investigated concerning sedation. Study 1 aimed to evaluate the effect of sedation on melatonin
concentration. Melatonin is an essential hormone in regulating the circadian rhythm, but whether
sedation affects this regulation is unknown. Therefore, the aim of study 1 was to evaluate the effect
of the melatonin concentration in the blood in critically ill patients randomized to sedation or nonsedation and to investigate the correlation with delirium. The hypothesis was that melatonin
concentration was suppressed, which correlated with an increased frequency of delirium.
Restorative sleep is essential, as mentioned above. Hence, study 2 aimed to evaluate the effect of
Dexmedetomidine on sleep quality and quantity using polysomnography (PSG), as the hypothesis
was that sleep quality and quantity increase in patients treated with Dexmedetomidine.
Methods: Study 1 was a sub-study to "Non-sedation or light sedation in critically ill, mechanically
ventilated patients," published in The New England Journal of Medicine. One-hundred consecutive
patients were randomized to sedation or non-sedation with a daily wake-up call (50 in each arm). 79
patients from the main study completed the sub-study (41 sedated and 38 non-sedated). All included
patients were randomized at the intensive care unit (ICU) at the hospital of southwest Jutland,
Denmark. Melatonin was measured thrice daily (3 am, 2 pm, and 10 pm) for four consecutive days,
starting on the second day upon randomization/intubation. Primary outcome: melatonin
concentration in sedated vs. non-sedated patients. Secondary outcome: risk of developing delirium
or non-medically induced (NMI) coma in sedated vs. non-sedated patients, assessed by CAM-ICU
(Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit).
30 consecutive patients were included in study 2, and the study was performed as a double-blinded,
randomized, placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups: 20 patients were treated with
dexmedetomidine and 10 with placebo. Two 16 h of polysomnography recordings were completed
for each patient on two consecutive nights. Patients were randomized to dexmedetomidine or
placebo after the first recording, thus providing a control recording for all patients.
Dexmedetomidine was administered during the second recording (6 pm – 6 am) and the objective
was to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine vs. placebo on sleep - quality and quantity. The
primary outcome was sleep quality, total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and REM sleep
determined by PSG. Secondary outcome was delirium and daytime function determined by CAM ICU (Confusion Assessment Method of the Intensive Care Unit) and physical activity. Alertness
and wakefulness determined by RASS (Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale).
Study 3 was a secondary analysis to study 2, and it included all 30 patients from study 2. The
attending nurse performed a subjective observer rating of sleep quantity, and this assessment was
compared to the PSG recordings and the primary outcome was the level of agreement between
SSA and PSG determined by Bland-Altman analysis. The secondary outcome was the overall
mean TST estimated by SSA compared to PSG in all study participants enrolled in the main study
during both study nights. Secondly to estimate TST for all study participants evaluated hourly
during both study nights, and thirdly to estimate TST assessed with SSA compared to PSG in study
participants sedated with dexmedetomidine during the second night and for study participants
treated with placebo or non-sedation the first and second nights. Results: Melatonin concentration in study 1 were suppressed in sedated patients compared to the
non-sedated. All patients showed an elevated peak melatonin concentration early in their ICU
admission (p=0.01). The risk of delirium or coma (NMI) was significantly inferior in the nonsedated group (OR 0,42 CI 0.27;0.66 p<0.0001). No significant relationship between delirium
development and suppressed melatonin concentration was shown in this study (OR 1.004 P=0.29
95% CI 0.997;1.010).
In study 2 Sleep efficiency was increased in the dexmedetomidine group by; 37.6% (29.7;45.6 95%
CI) vs. 3.7% (-11.4;18.8 95% CI) (p<0.001) and TST were extended by 271 min. (210;324 95% CI)
vs. 27 min. (-82;135 95% CI), (p<0.001). No significant difference in REM sleep, delirium,
physical activity, or RASS score was found except RASS night two.
In study 3 the level of agreement between SSA and PSG was low. The mean TST estimated by SSA
during the time interval 4.00 pm to 7.00 am was 481 minutes (428;534, 95% CI) vs. PSG at 437
minutes (386;488, 95% CI) (p=0.05). When sedated with dexmedetomidine, TST assessed using
SSA was 650 minutes (571;729, 95% CI) vs. PSG which was 588 minutes (531;645, 95% CI)
(p=0.56). In participants treated with placebo or non-sedation TST assessed with SSA was 397
minutes (343;450, 95% CI) vs. PSG at 362 minutes (302;422, 95% CI) vs. (p=0.17). Conclusion: In patients randomized to sedation or non-sedation, melatonin concentration was
suppressed in the sedated, critically ill ICU patients compared to non-sedated controls, and the
frequency of delirium development was elevated in these patients. Total sleep time and sleep efficiency were significantly increased, and REM sleep was not
eliminated, in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients randomized to dexmedetomidine
compared to a control PSG recording performed during non-sedation (standard care).
The level of agreement between SSA and PSG in the above-mentioned preexisting cohort data base
was low, and there was a significant overestimation of mean total sleep time. SSA should only be
used under the awareness that it is imprecise and overestimates total sleep time.
U2 - 10.21996/jk9s-6s14
DO - 10.21996/jk9s-6s14
M3 - Ph.D. thesis
PB - Syddansk Universitet. Det Sundhedsvidenskabelige Fakultet
ER -