Quality of Life of Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness Symptoms in Long-Term Intensive Care Survivors

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov September 10, 2020

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) symptoms were disturbingly common in the majority of long-term survivors, indicating that symptoms persist up to 10y and frequently impair QoL. However, only a small number of patients had been diagnosed with ICUAW.

149 former patients (age: 63.5 ± 13.1y; males: 73%; duration in ICU: 20.8 ± 15.7d; duration of ventilation: 16.5 ± 13.7 h; time post-ICU: 4.4 ± 2.7y, 5-10y: 43%) consented to be interviewed concerning occurrence, duration, recovery and consequences of ICUAW-associated muscle weakness or neuropathy-like symptoms after ICU.

In 75% at least 1 persistent or previous symmetrical symptom was reported (myopathy-like muscle weakness: 43%; neuropathy-like symptoms: 13%; both: 44%) and rated as incidence of ICUAW.

However, only 18% of participants had received an ICUAW diagnosis by their physicians, although 62% had persistent symptoms up to 10y after ICU (5-10y: 46%).