Correspondence: circadian melatonin rhythms in critically ill patients with delirium - Takeaways - MDSpire

Correspondence: circadian melatonin rhythms in critically ill patients with delirium

  • By

  • Danielle Hunziker

  • Tatjana Zehnder

  • Madlaina Forster

  • Anna Estermann

  • Núria Zellweger

  • Jan Huber

  • Andrea Blum

  • Salim Abdelhamid

  • Fenna Stolte

  • Lua Maria Mengisen

  • Christian Cajochen

  • Vitaliy Kolodyazhniy

  • Martin Siegemund

  • Alexa Hollinger

  • April 10, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Delirium affects up to 80% of ICU patients, leading to longer hospital stays, increased mortality, and cognitive impairment.

  • 2

    Circadian rhythm disruptions, including altered melatonin patterns, are common in delirious ICU patients.

  • 3

    The study analyzed melatonin levels every two hours, revealing significant differences in circadian rhythms between delirious and non-delirious patients.

  • 4

    Delirious patients exhibited delayed melatonin onset and midpoint times, indicating altered circadian melatonin secretion.

  • 5

    Timed melatonin intake may help normalize circadian rhythms and could serve as a potential treatment for delirium.

Original Source(s)

Correspondence: circadian melatonin rhythms in critically ill patients with delirium

  • by Danielle Hunziker, Tatjana Zehnder, Madlaina Forster, Anna Estermann, Núria Zellweger, Jan Huber, Andrea Blum, Salim Abdelhamid, Fenna Stolte, Lua Maria Mengisen, Christian Cajochen, Vitaliy Kolodyazhniy, Martin Siegemund, Alexa Hollinger

  • April 10, 2026

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