Melatonin review found uncertain effects on intensive-care and hospital stays
After removing statistical outliers and adjusting for publication bias, pooled trials showed no statistically clear overall reduction in time spent in intensive care or hospital.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The adjusted analysis did not show a statistically clear overall shortening of intensive-care or hospital stays with melatonin or drugs acting on melatonin receptors. Some patient subgroups had more favorable results, but the review judged the overall evidence very uncertain. These findings do not establish a routine benefit for adults admitted to intensive care.
Results varied substantially between studies, and the review rated the evidence as very low certainty. The subgroup findings do not establish that all intensive-care patients benefit, while nonsignificant overall results do not prove no effect.
What researchers found
Mean ICU length of stay
Melatonin or receptor agonists versus placebo during ICU admission, after outlier removal and adjustment for publication bias.
What the abstract analyzed
The review focused on how long patients stayed in intensive care or hospital. Researchers reanalyzed the evidence after removing statistical outliers and adjusting for publication bias, making those checks central to interpreting the overall findings.
Subgroups need separate interpretation
Shorter stays were reported in subgroup analyses for coronary bypass patients in intensive care and patients with COVID-19 in hospital. These narrower findings need confirmation and cannot be generalized across admissions.
The original publication
The effect of exogenous melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists on intensive care unit and hospital length of stay: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Kelleher AB, O'Donovan M, O'Doherty D et al.
PLoS One · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40920753
- Record checked
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