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World J Crit Care Med. Jun 9, 2026; 15(2): 114240
Published online Jun 9, 2026. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i2.114240
Published online Jun 9, 2026. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i2.114240
Noise quantification in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital
Ruchi Gupta, Arshdeep S Chadha, Himanshi Lakra, Rimsha Rehan, Sumit Ray, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi 110025, India
Raminder Kalra, Holy Family College of Nursing, New Delhi 110025, India
Co-corresponding authors: Ruchi Gupta and Sumit Ray
Author contributions: Gupta R, Ray S and Chadha AS contributed to conceptualization and design; Gupta R, Kalra R, Lakra H and Rehan R contributed to material preparation, data acquisition, and analysis; Gupta R and Ray S contributed equally to the study and manuscript and are co-corresponding authors. All authors contributed to writing and revising the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Holy Family Hospital, No. EC/NEW/INST/2021/2040.
Informed consent statement: The study did not involve the collection, use, or recording of any patient data, including identifiable or de-identified health information. No interaction or intervention with patients occurred, and no protected health information was accessed or retained.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: There is no additional data available.
Corresponding author: Ruchi Gupta, MD, Consultant, Principal Investigator, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Okhla Road, New Delhi 110025, India.
Received: September 16, 2025
Revised: November 28, 2025
Accepted: February 9, 2026
Published online: June 9, 2026
Processing time: 248 Days and 1.6 Hours
Revised: November 28, 2025
Accepted: February 9, 2026
Published online: June 9, 2026
Processing time: 248 Days and 1.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: The purpose of the study was to quantify the noise pollution in intensive care units (ICUs). The average sound levels were consistently above the World Health Organization recommendations. Peak noise exceeded industrial noise cut-offs. Time periods with maximum noise in the ICU were identified during nursing handovers, visitations and twilight hours. The findings highlight the need to introduce measures for noise control in the ICU.