What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aimed to explore the impact of ward noise on cancer-related fatigue in lung cancer patients.

May 6, 2026Noise and Health0 citationsOpen Access

Associations between Ward Noise Levels and the Severity of Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study

YYYu YiAffiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University LWLing WangAffiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University ZWZhulin WangCentral South University of Forestry and Technology

Key Points

The research aimed to explore the impact of ward noise on cancer-related fatigue in lung cancer patients.
Retrospective study design with 86 patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy.
Patients were divided into high-noise and low-noise groups based on postoperative noise levels.
Data collected included fatigue, sleep quality, psychological status, quality of life, and satisfaction.
A multivariable linear regression was used to analyze the association between noise levels and fatigue.
Patients in the high-noise group reported significantly higher fatigue scores.
High noise levels were associated with poorer sleep quality and lower quality of life scores.
After adjustments, higher noise levels were independently linked to increased fatigue measurements.

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated whether elevated ward noise aggravates cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in lung cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective single-centre study allocated 86 patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy (March 2021–June 2022) into high- and low-noise groups (43 patients each) in accordance with postoperative ward decibel levels. Data on CRF (Visual Analogue Scale VAS and Brief Fatigue Inventory BFI), sleep quality (Athens Insomnia Scale AIS), psychological status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), quality of life (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30), clinical recovery and satisfaction were collected 2 weeks postsurgery. Multivariable linear regression analysed the noise–CRF association, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and clinical stage. Results: The high-noise group had a significantly higher noise level (A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level: 58.2 ± 2.1 dB vs. 50.8 ± 2.4 dB) and exhibited more severe CRF (BFI: 6.8 ± 1.5 vs. 5.2 ± 1.7, P < 0.001; VAS: 7.5 ± 1.3 vs. 5.9 ± 1.6, P < 0.001), poorer sleep (AIS: 10.2 ± 2.8 vs. 6.1 ± 2.9), higher anxiety/depression, poorer quality of life, delayed ambulation (28.5 ± 6.1 h vs. 23.2 ± 5.8 h), longer hospital stays (7.5 ± 1.4 days vs. 6.4 ± 1.2 days), and lower satisfaction than the low-noise group. After adjustment, higher A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level was independently associated with higher BFI ( β = 0.380) and VAS scores ( β = 0.420). Conclusion: High ward noise independently predicts increased CRF, suggesting noise reduction as a key management approach.

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