Reference Values of the Sleep-wake Cycle of Newborns During Hospitalization in the Neonatal ICU - a Systematic Review Protocol

Background: Annually, approximately 15 million children are born prematurely (less than 37 weeks of gestation). These newborns are hospitalized from weeks to months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), undergoing painful invasive and non-invasive procedures, and various stimuli in an environment that contrasts with the maternal uterus, which may result in reduced sleep time or changes in the sleep-wake cycle. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to describe the reference values ​​of the sleep-wake cycle of neonates admitted to the NICU and summarize the main sleep assessment tools used during the neonatal hospitalization phase. Methods: Databases will be used systematically to search for studies that provide reference values ​​for the sleep-wake cycle of newborns admitted to the NICU. Two independent reviewers will search the articles, while a third reviewer will analyze the disagreements. Discussion: The results of the review will contribute to the planning of approaches that do not interfere with sleep time, maintaining an adequate sleep-wake pattern for the development of newborns in the NICU.Systematic review registration: submitted on 13. Dec. 2020 IN PROSPERO