Low-dose dexmedetomidine administered at night to critically ill adults reduced the incidence of delirium during intensive care unit (ICU) stays and patient-reported sleep quality remained unchanged, according to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Delirium in critically ill adults is independently associated with longer hospital stay and higher costs and may affect cognitive recovery. Although dexmedetomidine is associated with a lower incidence of delirium than midazolam and propofol in the ICU, it was not known whether dexmedetomidine simply caused less delirium or if it reduced delirium incidence.

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