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

NCT ID: NCT05107947

Last Updated: 2026-01-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 300 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-10-31
• Study Completion Date: 2028-09-30

Brief Summary

The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of a dynamic light in order to improve the circadian rhythm, provide a better sleep and well-being, and in the long run an improved recovery. The primary question is whether dynamic artificial light with circadian stimulus can affect the circadian rhythm. The secondary question is whether this also provides better sleep and well-being.

The group that is particularly interesting to study is a geriatric population that is more sensitive to circadian rhythm disorders, sleep disorders and confusion in connection with hospitalization and that can be of particular benefit from this intervention.

Detailed Description

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.

Conditions

Aged; Circadian Rhythm; Cognition; Fatigue; Humans; Light; Melatonin; Sleep; Biocentric; Frailty; Karolinska Sleepiness Score; Inflammation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Intervention biocentric light environment

In all study 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.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Biocentric light

Intervention Type: OTHER

Light that changes in intensity and spectral distribution during the day to mimick daylight. High in intensity and high circadian stimulus during daytime and low intensity and low circadian stimulus during late afternoon and night.

Control standard light environment

Standard static light environment.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Biocentric light

Light that changes in intensity and spectral distribution during the day to mimick daylight. High in intensity and high circadian stimulus during daytime and low intensity and low circadian stimulus during late afternoon and night.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Region Skane

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Madeleine Selvander, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Lunds Universitet

Locations

Skåne University Hospital Malmö

Malmo, , Sweden

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Sweden

Central Contacts

Madeleine Selvander, MD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

madeleine.selvander@med.lu.se

+4640 33 32 27

Klas Sjöberg, MD,PhD

Role: CONTACT

klas.sjoberg@med.lu.se

+4640 33 32 27

Facility Contacts

Klas Sjöberg, Prof, MD

Role: primary

klas.sjoberg@med.lu.se

+46 040 33 61 61

Rose-Marie K Andersson, Nurse

Role: backup

rose-marie.andersson@med.lu.se

+46 0765 642015

Other Identifiers

2021-02765

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id