When the night becomes a nightmare - Critical Care Science (CCS)

When the night becomes a nightmare |

Macbeth⁽⁾ describes sleep as the “balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, chief nourisher in life’s feast, a soothing bath after a day of hard work, and the main course of a feast”. Although scientists are still working to identify and clarify all of the functions of sleep, decades of studies have confirmed that sleep is essential for survival and healthy functioning, as well as optimal physical and cognitive performance.

The connections between sleep disruption and disease have become more firmly established over time. It is well known that poor quality sleep can have significant adverse consequences for hospitalized patients, prompting emotional distress and delirium.⁽⁾ Several studies have shown that patients in the intensive care unit exhibit significant alterations in highly fragmented sleep architecture, with prolonged sleep latencies and poor efficiency.⁽⁾

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