It is well recognized that sleep is severely disturbed in patients in intensive care units (ICU) and that this can compromise their rehabilitation potential. However, it is still difficult to objectively assess sleep quantity and quality and the determinants of sleep disturbance remain unclear. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate carefully the impact of ICU sound intensity levels and their sources on ICU patients’ sleep over a 24-h period. Sleep and sound levels were recorded in 11 ICU intubated patients who met the criteria. Sleep was recorded using a miniaturized multi-channel ambulatory recording device. Sound intensity levels and their sources were recorded with the Nox-T3 monitor. A 30-s epoch-by-epoch analysis of sleep stages and sound data was carried out. Multinomial and binomial logistic regressions were used to associate sleep stages, wakefulness and sleep–wake transitions with sound levels and their sources. The subjects slept a median of 502.2 [283.2–718.9] min per 24 h; 356.9 [188.6–590.9] min at night (22.00–08.00) and 168.5 [142.5–243.3] during daytime (8 am–10 pm). Median sound intensity level reached 70.2 [65.1–80.3] dBC at night. Sound thresholds leading to disturbed sleep were 63 dBC during the day and 59 dBC during the night. With levels above 77 dBC, the incidence of arousals (OR 3.9, 95% CI 3.0–5.0) and sleep-to-wake transitions (OR 7.6, 95% CI 4.1–14) increased. The most disturbing noises sources were monitor alarms (OR 4.5, 95% CI 3.5–5.6) and ventilator alarms (OR 4.2, 95% CI 2.9–6.1). We have shown, in a small group of 11 non-severe ICU patients, that sound level intensity, a major disturbance factor of sleep continuity, should be strictly controlled on a 24-h profile.

Exposure to chronic hypobaric hypoxia imposes a significant physiological burden to more than 80 million humans living above 2500 m throughout the world. Among them, 50 000 live in the world's highest city, La Rinconada, located at 5000–5300 m in southern Peru. Expedition 5300 is the first scientific and medical programme led in La Rinconada to investigate the physiological adaptations and altitude‐related health issues in this unique population. Dwellers from La Rinconada have very high haemoglobin concentration (20.3 ± 2.4 g/dL; n = 57) and those with chronic mountain sickness (CMS) exhibit even higher concentrations (23.1 ± 1.7 g/dL; n = 150). These values are associated with large total haemoglobin mass and blood volume, without an associated iron deficit. These changes in intravascular volumes lead to a substantial increase in blood viscosity, which is even larger in CMS patients. Despite these large haematological changes, 24 h blood pressure monitoring is essentially normal in La Rinconada, but some results suggest impaired vascular reactivity. Echocardiography revealed large right heart dilatation and high pulmonary arterial pressure as well as left ventricle concentric remodelling and grade I diastolic dysfunction. These changes in heart dimension and function tend to be more severe in highlanders with CMS. Polygraphy evaluations revealed a large reduction in nocturnal pulse oxygen saturation (median SpO₂ = 79%), which is even more severe in CMS patients who also tended to show a higher oxygen desaturation index. The population of La Rinconada offers a unique opportunity to investigate the human responses to chronic severe hypoxia, at an altitude that is probably close to the maximum altitude human beings can permanently tolerate without presenting major health issues. image