Correlation Analysis of Nocturnal Noise with Melatonin Secretion and Bone Repair Factors in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.
Acoustic environmental modifications were associated with altered melatonin secretion patterns and changes in bone metabolism markers in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
Key Findings
Results
Patients in the noise control group demonstrated significantly elevated melatonin levels compared with the standard care group after 7 days of hospitalization.
Retrospective study conducted at LiuZhou Municipal Liutie Central Hospital between January 2022 and December 2023
Noise control group (n=72) received enhanced acoustic management in specially designed quiet zones; standard care group (n=65) was treated in regular hospital wards
Melatonin levels were measured at baseline and Day 7 of hospitalisation
Difference between groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001)
Results
Sleep quality scores were significantly higher in the noise control group than in the standard care group.
Sleep quality was measured using the Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale (SQS)
Measurements taken at baseline and Day 7 of hospitalisation
Difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001)
Both groups had acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
Results
Cortisol concentrations were significantly reduced in the noise control group compared to the standard care group.
Cortisol was measured at baseline and Day 7 of hospitalisation
Reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.001)
Noise control group consisted of 72 patients in specially designed quiet zones
Standard care group consisted of 65 patients in regular hospital wards
Results
Bone metabolism regulation markers showed favourable changes in the noise control group, including a significantly decreased RANKL/OPG ratio.
RANKL/OPG ratio was significantly decreased in the noise control group (P < 0.001)
OPG levels were significantly elevated in the noise control group (P = 0.005)
Soluble RANKL concentrations were significantly reduced in the noise control group (P < 0.001)
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were measured at baseline and Day 7
Results
Pain intensity as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was significantly reduced in the noise control group.
VAS scores demonstrated a significant reduction in the noise control group (P < 0.001)
VAS was measured at baseline and Day 7 of hospitalisation
Both groups had acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures as their primary diagnosis
This finding was observed alongside improvements in melatonin, cortisol, and bone metabolism markers
What This Means
This research suggests that controlling nighttime noise levels in hospital wards may influence several biological markers in patients recovering from osteoporotic spinal fractures (fractures caused by weak bones in the spine). Patients placed in specially designed quiet zones had higher levels of melatonin (a hormone that regulates sleep), better sleep quality, and lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) after one week, compared to patients in standard hospital wards. These differences were statistically significant, meaning they were unlikely to be due to chance.
The study also found that patients in the quieter environment showed more favorable changes in markers related to bone health. Specifically, the balance between two proteins — OPG (which protects bone) and RANKL (which promotes bone breakdown) — shifted in a direction associated with less bone loss. Patients in the noise control group also reported lower pain scores after one week. Together, these findings suggest that the hormonal and biological environment created by better sleep and lower stress may be linked to bone metabolism processes.
This research matters because hospital environments are often noisy, and this study raises the possibility that something as practical as acoustic management could influence patients' hormone levels, stress responses, and potentially their bone healing environment. However, because this was a retrospective observational study, it can show associations but cannot definitively prove that noise reduction caused the biological changes observed. Further research with stronger study designs would be needed to confirm these findings and understand their clinical significance.
Chen T, Li N. (2026). Correlation Analysis of Nocturnal Noise with Melatonin Secretion and Bone Repair Factors in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.. Noise & health. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.nah_175_25