Faculty mentor/PI email address
youngbc@rowan.edu
Keywords
Delirium, Sleep architecture, ICU, Stroke, Polysomnography, CAM-ICU
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
IRB G25040
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background: Delirium is common among ICU stroke patients and could possibly be associated with disrupted sleep. However, the relationship between specific sleep characteristics and delirium remains unclear.
Objective: To evaluate the association between sleep architecture and delirium in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients in the ICU.
Methods: We performed a primary analysis of 14 ICU ICH patients who underwent polysomnography. Sleep variables included total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep stages (N1, N2, N3, REM), arousal index, and sleep latency. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU). Patients were categorized by presence or absence of delirium. Continuous variables were compared using Welch two-sample t-tests.
Results: The mean age of the cohort was 69.2 ± 19.6 years. No significant associations were found between delirium and total sleep time, sleep efficiency, REM sleep, or arousal index (all p > 0.05). However, trends were observed, including reduced REM sleep in delirious patients. Unexpectedly, delirious patients demonstrated higher sleep efficiency and total sleep time.
Conclusions: Sleep indices were not significantly associated with delirium in this cohort. Increased sleep measures in delirious patients may reflect underlying encephalopathy or reduced responsiveness rather than restorative sleep. Additionally, the CAM-ICU may overidentify delirium in patients with impaired consciousness. These findings highlight the complexity of distinguishing delirium from altered mental status in critically ill neurologic populations. Larger studies are needed to further evaluate these relationships.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Nervous System Diseases | Neurosciences
Included in
Sleep Architecture and Delirium in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Preliminary Observational Study
Background: Delirium is common among ICU stroke patients and could possibly be associated with disrupted sleep. However, the relationship between specific sleep characteristics and delirium remains unclear.
Objective: To evaluate the association between sleep architecture and delirium in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients in the ICU.
Methods: We performed a primary analysis of 14 ICU ICH patients who underwent polysomnography. Sleep variables included total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep stages (N1, N2, N3, REM), arousal index, and sleep latency. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU). Patients were categorized by presence or absence of delirium. Continuous variables were compared using Welch two-sample t-tests.
Results: The mean age of the cohort was 69.2 ± 19.6 years. No significant associations were found between delirium and total sleep time, sleep efficiency, REM sleep, or arousal index (all p > 0.05). However, trends were observed, including reduced REM sleep in delirious patients. Unexpectedly, delirious patients demonstrated higher sleep efficiency and total sleep time.
Conclusions: Sleep indices were not significantly associated with delirium in this cohort. Increased sleep measures in delirious patients may reflect underlying encephalopathy or reduced responsiveness rather than restorative sleep. Additionally, the CAM-ICU may overidentify delirium in patients with impaired consciousness. These findings highlight the complexity of distinguishing delirium from altered mental status in critically ill neurologic populations. Larger studies are needed to further evaluate these relationships.