Eye masks and earplugs may help patients in intensive care units to sleep, Chinese researchers have suggested.

Slumber aids such as masks and plugs helped 14 healthy volunteers exposed to the sounds and light levels found in the ICU get a better night's sleep, found researchers at the Fujian Medical University in Fuzhou, China, led by Xiaoying Jiang.

Jiang said in a statement, "Sleep disruption is common in intensive care unit patients and has been associated with impaired immune function, decreased inspiratory muscle endurance, extended mechanical ventilation, delirium and severe morbidity."

Sleep quality over four nights was measured by Jiang and colleagues, a night to get used to the new environment, a "baseline" night and the last two nights randomized to be exposed to either a night of noise and light followed by a night with use of slumber aids or vice-versa.

Jiang said, "The earplugs and eye masks were applied easily and remained in place and intact throughout the nights they were used."

It was further suggested by Jiang that earplugs and eye masks be routinely used by intensive care patients. (With Inputs from Agencies)