Melatonin may improve some intensive-care outcomes, with low-certainty evidence
Trials in adults receiving intensive care suggest melatonin may reduce delirium and improve reported sleep. Effects on death during intensive care and functioning afterward remained uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled trials suggest possible improvements in delirium, reported sleep quality, and time spent in intensive care with melatonin. However, confidence in these findings was low. Effects on death in intensive care and functioning afterward remained uncertain, so the sleep and delirium findings do not establish a broader recovery benefit.
Study bias and inconsistent results lowered evidence certainty. The abstract does not provide treatment schedules or outcome assessment periods, limiting interpretation of when and under what conditions the possible benefits occurred.
Different outcomes had different answers
The review's answers depended on the outcome measured. It suggested possible improvements in delirium and reported sleep, while effects on sleep awakenings, anxiety, agitation, and post-traumatic stress disorder remained highly uncertain.
What low certainty means here
The authors rated the supporting evidence rather than treating every pooled estimate as conclusive. They identified bias and inconsistency as reasons for reduced confidence. Possible improvements therefore need to be read alongside unresolved recovery outcomes.
The original publication
Melatonin Use in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Tang BHY, Manalo J, Chowdhury SR et al.
Crit Care Med · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40662882
- Record checked
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