Predictive variables for poor long-term physical recovery after intensive care unit stay: An exploratory study.

• Published in: Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
• Main Authors: Ámundadóttir, Ólöf R, Jónasdóttir, Rannveig J, Sigvaldason, Kristinn, Jónsdóttir, Helga, Möller, Alma D, Dean, Elizabeth, Sveinsson, Thorarinn, Sigurðsson, Gísli H
• Other Authors: 1Department of Physiotherapy, Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 2Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 3Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 4Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 5Directorate of Health, Reykjavik, Iceland. 6Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2020
• Subjects: Gjörgæsla; Líkamsástand; Intensive Care Units; Recovery of Function; Critical Care Outcomes; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/621566; https://doi.org/10.1111/aas.13690

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink below Background: Elucidating factors that influence physical recovery of survivors after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay is paramount in maximizing long-term functional outcomes. We examined potential predictors for poor long-term physical recovery in ICU survivors. Methods: Based on secondary analysis of a trial of 50 ICU patients who underwent mobilization in the ICU and were followed for one year, linear regression analysis examined the associations of exposure variables (baseline characteristics, severity of illness variables, ICU-related variables, and lengths of ICU and hospital stay), with physical recovery variables (muscle strength, exercise capacity, and self-reported physical function), measured one year after ICU discharge. Results: When the data were adjusted for age, female gender was associated with reduced muscle strength (P = .003), exercise capacity (P < .0001), and self-reported physical function (P = .01). Older age, when adjusted for gender, was associated with reduced exercise capacity (P < .001). After adjusting for gender and age, an association was observed between a lower score on one or two physical recovery variables and exposure variables, specifically, high body mass index, low functional independence, comorbidity and low self-reported physical function at baseline, muscle weakness at ICU discharge, and longer hospital stay. No adjustment was made for cumulative type I error rate due to small number of participants. Conclusion: Elucidating risk factors for poor long-term physical recovery after ICU stay, including gender, may be critical if mobilization and exercise are to be prescribed expediently during and after ICU stay, to ensure maximal long-term recovery. Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland Research Fund in 2011-2013 Icelandic Physiotherapy Association Research Fund in 2016 University of Iceland Teachers Assistant Fund for PhD students in 2016-17