Sleep Deprivation in Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A Brief Review

Walquíria da Mata Santos

Postgraduate Program in Adult Intensive Care, InterFisio, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Camila Estevam Veloso

Postgraduate Program in Biosciences and Human Health, University of the State of Minas Gerais - Divinópolis Unit, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Luísa Teixeira Pasqualotto

Postgraduate Program in Surgical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Newton Santos de Faria Júnior *

University of the State of Minas Gerais - Divinópolis Unit, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Context: Published studies of epidemiological research show that poor quality sleep or short-term sleep is related to negative health effects.

Objective: The objective of this study is to report on the various factors that contribute to poor sleep quality in patients found in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and its consequences for the recovery of the critically ill patient.

Methods: This is a narrative review of the literature, with the following descriptors being used as a source of research for the articles: intensive care unit, sleep, sleep disturbances, sleep disorders, ICU, patients and stressors.

Results: By evaluating the articles, the results showed categories that show the factors that interfere with the critical patient's sleep; consequences and effects of sleep deprivation.

Conclusion: Due to the factors that interfere with sleep deprivation in the ICU, it can be said that the physiology of the sleep cycle, rest, promotion of relaxation by health professionals, comfort over the feeling of fear of death and pain, are important points to considered as a way to minimize the negative effects that sleep deprivation causes to the patient.

Keywords: Intensive care unit, sleep, sleep deprivation, sleep disorders, sleep habits


How to Cite

Santos, Walquíria da Mata, Camila Estevam Veloso, Luísa Teixeira Pasqualotto, and Newton Santos de Faria Júnior. 2026. “Sleep Deprivation in Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A Brief Review”. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research 38 (2):60-71. https://doi.org/10.9734/jammr/2026/v38i26068.

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