Endpoint

Incidence of ICU delirium

CAT:outcome/icu-delirium-incidencereported in event rate2 findings from 1 compound

What moved it

2 findings · 1 compound · 1 null · by evidence strength

Compound	Direction	Findings	Strongest evidence
melatonin	no effect 1 · down 1	2	Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.

Reported to move it

1 finding

melatonin — decreases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Finding
“The subgroup analyses confirmed that melatonin significantly reduced the incidence of delirium (RR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56~0.89, P = .003, I2 = 32%, P for heterogeneity = .22) for the special ICU patients.”
Quoted verbatim from Preventive Effects of Melatonin on Delirium in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials..
Study

meta-analysis
Population

ICU patients; subgroup analysis restricted to 'special ICU patients' (undefined further in the abstract)
Effect 0.7 risk ratio, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.89
Preventive Effects of Melatonin on Delirium in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.2024PMID:38518134Permalink

Measured, no effect detected

1 finding

melatonin — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull result
“Our primary analysis was based on six RCTs with 2209 patients and did not show any difference in the incidence of delirium attributable to the treatment with melatonin (RR 0.89, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73-1.09]).”
Quoted verbatim from Melatonin and delirium in the intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials..
Study

meta-analysis
Participants

2,209
Population

critically ill patients in intensive care units
Melatonin and delirium in the intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.2025PMID:41051561Permalink

How it is measured

New-onset delirium during intensive care admission, diagnosed by a bedside screening instrument (CAM-ICU, ICDSC or equivalent) applied on a stated schedule. Screening tool and screening frequency recorded with each finding — neither is held constant across the literature.

Sources cited

2 papers

Subject: incidence of icu delirium
Findings: 2
Papers: 2

Compound

Direction

Findings

Strongest evidence

melatonin

no effect 1 · down 1