Impact of Hospital Ward Acoustic Design on Postoperative Recovery of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a critical condition requiring effective postoperative recovery management. Hospital noise, often exceeding recommended levels, can heighten stress and disrupt healing post-AMI. This study investigated the effects of acoustic design in hospital wards on postoperative recovery for patients with AMI. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 192 patients with AMI hospitalized between June 2021 and July 2023. Patients were allocated into two groups on the basis of ward design: an acoustically optimized ward (AOW, n = 91) and a conventional ward (CW, n = 101). Outcomes, including vital signs, sleep quality, patient perceptions, and recovery metrics, were assessed. Noise levels were monitored continually, and sleep quality was gauged using sleep diaries. Results: The AOW group exhibited significantly lower systolic (P = 0.011) and diastolic (P = 0.016) blood pressures and improved postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, P = 0.002) than the CW group, but LVEF was not reassessed at discharge. The AOW group further demonstrated reduced noise levels both day (P = 0.004) and night (P = 0.021), fostering better sleep outcomes such as fewer awakenings (P = 0.024). Additionally, the AOW group experienced shorter hospital stays (13.21 ± 3.57 days) than the CW group (14.34 ± 3.19 days, P = 0.022) and improved patient satisfaction at discharge (P = 0.029). Perceived pain was significantly reduced in the AOW group (P = 0.026). Anxiety levels displayed no significant differences. Conclusion: The acoustic optimization of hospital wards was associated with improvements in postoperative recovery outcomes, such as lower blood pressure, enhanced sleep quality, reduced perceived pain, and shorter hospital stays, for patients with AMI, suggesting that a good sound environment may play a positive role in postoperative recovery.