Feasibility Pilot of Bright Light in the Intensive Care Unit

To evaluate the feasibility of providing daytime bright light in the ICU in a pilot randomized controlled trial. Feasibility will be assessed via the following metrics: daytime bright light is acceptable and tolerable to patients and has high fidelity and sustainability as an intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• Hospital admission ≤30 hours at noon on enrollment day
• Expected to say in the Medical Intensive Care Unit ≥24 hours after enrollment
• Age ≥50 years
• History of hypertension based on chart review and presence of 1 or more home blood pressure medications
• Able to understand English

Exclusion criteria

• At significant risk for pre-existing circadian abnormalities:

• Severe chronic brain injury (Injury greater than 30 days ago resulting in the inability to live independently) OR Acute brain injury of any severity (Injury less than 30 days ago including acute intracranial bleed, traumatic brain injury, central nervous system infection, tumor)
• Documented circadian disorder (<1% population) or blind/disease of the optic nerve
• Current history of substance abuse including alcohol (use in last 30 days)
• Current or recent (last 1 year) shiftwork
• Home medications include: melatonin, melatonin agonist
• Transferred from an outside hospital, long-term care, rehabilitation, or acute care facility
• History of bipolar disease (Bright light therapy possibly unsafe in this population).
• Paralyzed (due to injury, disease or medications)
• Diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy in the setting of end-stage liver disease
• Homeless