Long-term functional disabilities in intensive care unit survivors: A prospective cohort study

Renato S Mesina Jr; Tone Rustøen; Milada Hagen; Jon Henrik Laake; Kristin Hofsø

doi:10.1016/j.aucc.2023.11.008

Long-term functional disabilities in intensive care unit survivors: A prospective cohort study

Aust Crit Care. 2024 Jan 2:S1036-7314(23)00197-2. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2023.11.008. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Renato S Mesina Jr¹, Tone Rustøen², Milada Hagen³, Jon Henrik Laake⁴, Kristin Hofsø⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen N-0424, Oslo, Norway; Department of Public Health Science, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1078, Blindern NO-0316, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: renmes@ous-hf.no.
² Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen N-0424, Oslo, Norway; Department of Public Health Science, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1078, Blindern NO-0316, Oslo, Norway.
³ Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen N-0424, Oslo, Norway; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Nursing Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 4, St. Olavs Plass N-0130, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen N-0424, Oslo, Norway; Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen N-0424, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen N-0424, Oslo, Norway; Department of Postoperative and Intensive Care Nursing, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, P. O. Box 4950, Nydalen N-0424, Oslo, Norway; Lovisenberg Diaconal University College, Lovisenberggt. 15b, 0456, Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 38171986
DOI: 10.1016/j.aucc.2023.11.008

Abstract

Background: Functional disabilities are common in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and may affect their ability to live independently. Few previous studies have investigated long-term functional outcomes with health status before ICU admission (pre-ICU health), and they are limited to specific patient groups.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of functional disabilities and examine pre-ICU health variables as possible predictive factors of functional disabilities 12 months after ICU admission in a mixed population of ICU survivors.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in six ICUs in Norway. Data on pre-ICU health were collected as soon as possible after ICU admission using patients, proxies, and patient electronic health records and at 12 months after ICU admission. Self-reported functional status was assessed using the Katz Index of independence in personal activities of daily living (P-ADL) and the Lawton instrumental activities of daily living scale (I-ADL).

Results: A total of 220 of 343 (64%) ICU survivors with data on pre-ICU health completed the questionnaires at 12 months and reported the following functional disabilities at 12 months: 31 patients (14.4%) reported P-ADL dependencies (new in 16 and persisting in 15), and 80 patients (36.4%) reported I-ADL dependencies (new in 41 and persisting in 39). In a multivariate analysis, worse baseline P-ADL and I-ADL scores were associated with dependencies in P-ADLs (odds ratio [OR]: 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-3.06) and I-ADLs (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.03-2.23), respectively, at 12 months. Patients who were employed were less likely to report I-ADL dependencies at 12 months (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.95).

Conclusion: In a subsample of ICU survivors, patients reported functional disabilities 12 months after ICU admission, which was significantly associated with their pre-ICU functional status. Early screening of pre-ICU functional status may help identify patients at risk of long-term functional disabilities. ICU survivors with pre-ICU functional disabilities may find it difficult to improve their functional status.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Critical care; Critical illness; Disability; Functional status; Intensive care unit; Longitudinal studies; Post–intensive care syndrome.