Delirium and Weakness Acquired in the ICU: Individual and Combined Effects on 90-Day Mortality in Survivors of Critical Illness

onlinelibrary.wiley.com November 4, 2024

Mortality is substantially high among critically ill survivors who experience both delirium and weakness, although no additive effect on mortality was observed when these conditions occur together.

Our findings highlight the urgent need to optimize ICU care by prioritizing the prevention, early identification and management of these two common ICU-acquired conditions.

A prospective cohort study consecutively recruited delirium-free critically ill patients admitted to six medical ICUs at a university hospital.

Delirium was assessed once daily for 14 days (or until death or ICU discharge) using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU.

Participants who were discharged from the ICUs were assessed for weakness using the Medical Research Council scale.

A summed score below 48 defines ICU-acquired weakness. These survivors were evaluated again for 90-day mortality.

The study is reported using the STROBE checklist.