Purpose: To evaluate the impact of slow-tempo music listening periods in mechanically ventilated
intensive care unit patients.
Methods: A randomized crossover study was performed in a 16-bed, adult critical care unit at a tertiary care
hospital. Still-sedated patients, mandating at least 3 more days of mechanical ventilation, were included. The
intervention consisted in two 1-hour daily periods ofmusic-vs-sham-MP3 listeningwhichwere performed on
Day 1 or 3 post-inclusion, with a Day 2 wash-out. “Before-after” collection of vital signs, recording of daily
sedative drug consumption and measurement of stress and inflammatory blood markers were performed.
Results: Of 55 randomized patients, 49 were included in the final analyses. Along with music listening, (i)
vital signs did not consistently change, whereas narcotic consumption tended to decrease to a similar
sedation (P = .06 vs sham-MP3); (ii) cortisol and prolactin blood concentrations decreased, whereas Adreno
Cortico Trophic Hormone (ACTH)/cortisol ratio increased (P = .02; P = .038; and P = .015 vs sham-MP3,
respectively), (iii) cortisol responders exhibited reversed associated changes in blood mehionine (MET)-
enkephalin content (P = .01).
Conclusions: In the present trial, music listening is a more sensitive stress-reliever in terms of biological vs
clinical response. The hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis stress axis is a quick sensor of music listening in
responding mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients, through a rapid reduction in blood cortisol.