Light in Frail Elderly - the Effect of a Dynamic Light for Sleep and Circadian Rhythm

This is a randomized, prospective study where the diurnal variation of melatonin as well as sleep-related parameters (sleep duration and sleep quality) will be investigated with regards to light exposure during the hospital stay. Furthermore, it is investigated how psychological and cognitive functions are affected by light intervention and whether this is related to improved sleep or not. The study includes a total of 300 patients over the age of 65 who are cared for in an internal medicine or orthopedic surgery department at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö. The measurement period in the project is intended to be carried out during the period of October 2021-February 2022. Hospital rooms in the orthopedic department and in the medical department constitute the study environment. In all rooms, a biocentric lighting environment will be able to be created by activating a special lighting system. In these rooms, light will change dynamically both in spectral distribution and intensity during the day. During the day, color temperature and intensity are high (1000 lux and up to 6500 K) to decrease both intensity and color temperature during the evening. By weighing together spectral distribution and brightness, the circadian stimulus of the light environment can be calculated. The biocentric light provides a light with a high circadian stimulus during the morning and early afternoon. The biocentric light can be turned on (intervention) or off (control). When control setting, the standard normal light constitutes the light environment.

In all rooms included in the study, an accurate measurement of light conditions is carried out both with regard to spectral distribution and light intensity. Furthermore, patients will carry light meters to measure the actual amount of light to which patients are exposed. The study includes two arms, an intervention group and a control group. Patients who are assigned to one of the study rooms, and meet the inclusion criteria, will be asked to participate in the study. Patients are randomized to activate the biocentric light environment or standard light environment. The patients who are cared for in a biocentric light environment are included in the intervention group and those who are cared for in rooms with a standard light environment are included in the control group.

300 patients are to be included in the study. Surveys concerning alertness, sleep will be carried out. The frailty and a rapid test for delirium will be assessed. The patients will wear an actiwatch that records their sleep. For a small group of patients, also saliva melatonin will be collected every 4th hour from 7 pm to 11 am for two different nights 3 days apart. The results will be compared between the patients in the intervention group and the control group.

Inclusion criteria

• Over the age of 65 years
• Admitted to one of the included study rooms

Exclusion criteria

• Overdose addictive substance
• Acute neurological disease
• Melatonin treatment
• Probable survival <5 days
• Severe visual impairment that makes reading impossible
• Age <65 years
• Inability to understand Swedish in speech and writing
• Inability to consent to participate in the study
• The patient is on any of the following medicines:

• Medications for Parkinson's disease
• Neuroleptics (including lithium)
• Dementia