#Japan #Akashi #Akashi Jinnju Hospital #Yamada Medical Lighting #Circadian Lighting

Innovative Research on Circadian Lighting and Fall Prevention

On July 14, 2025, a significant paper titled "Circadian Lighting Was Associated with a Reduction in the Number of Hospitalized Patients Experiencing Falls: A Retrospective Observational Study" by Dr. Takeshi Okinami of Akashi Jinnju Hospital in Hyogo Prefecture was published in the international open-access journal Healthcare (MDPI).

This research, conducted in collaboration with Yamada Medical Lighting Co., Ltd. (based in Tokyo), explores a critical risk for hospitalized patients: falls. The study investigates whether circadian lighting—lighting designed to support the body's natural rhythms—can effectively prevent falls in hospitalized patients.

The study was conducted in both the general and rehabilitation wards of Akashi Jinnju Hospital. It involved a retrospective observational study comparing two groups: patients admitted after the installation of circadian lighting (the intervention group), and those admitted before its installation, who were under traditional fluorescent lighting (the control group). The goal was to analyze the rate of falls experienced by patients in both groups.

Yamada Medical Lighting provided expertise in the design of the lighting environment and conducted illuminance measurements. The circadian lighting in the intervention group was set to ensure a melanopic illuminance of 275 or higher between 7 AM and noon, effectively aligning with the natural day-night rhythm.

Understanding Circadian Lighting

Circadian lighting refers to specialized lighting that aims to synchronize our body's internal clock. It adjusts automatically throughout the day, utilizing refreshing high color temperature light during the morning and daytime to promote activity, transitioning to softer, lower color temperature light by evening to encourage relaxation and natural sleep.

In this study, the fall rates of patients in the post-implementation ward with circadian lighting (216 patients) were compared against the fall rates of those in the pre-implementation ward (200 patients). The results demonstrated a significant reduction in the rate of falls from 15.0% to 7.4% in the ward with circadian lighting—almost halving the fall incidence.

These findings suggest that optimizing lighting in healthcare environments could serve as an innovative approach to reducing unintentional accidents like falls, particularly benefiting elderly patients or those with challenges to conventional fall prevention strategies. Further research into the mechanisms by which circadian lighting affects fall prevention in hospitalized patients is highly anticipated.

Reference Information

• - Publication Title: Circadian Lighting Was Associated with a Reduction in the Number of Hospitalized Patients Experiencing Falls: A Retrospective Observational Study
• - Published in Journal: Healthcare (MDPI)
• - Publication Date: July 14, 2025
• - Link: Read the article (available for free download)

About Akashi Jinnju Hospital

• - Name: Akashi Jinnju Hospital, Medical Corporation Koji-kai
• - Medical Specialties: Internal Medicine, Neurology, Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, Diabetes, ENT, Orthopedics, Urology, Rehabilitation
• - Authorized Bed Count: 149 Beds (General Ward: 29, Rehabilitation: 20, Medical Care Ward: 100)
• - Location: 1871-3 Shimizu, Yuzumi-cho, Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture
• - Website: Akashi Jinnju Hospital

The Akashi Jinnju Hospital is committed to providing comprehensive, high-quality medical and nursing services to the community under the philosophy, "Everything for the Suffering."

About Yamada Medical Lighting

Founded in 1927, Yamada Medical Lighting has been manufacturing and selling surgical lights and other medical lighting solutions. Their mission is to provide the necessary illumination for healthcare settings. With a commitment to "Kind light that illuminates correctly," Yamada Medical Lighting strives to push the boundaries of medical lighting to better serve their customers.