Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2016 Oct;42(10):1557-1566.
doi: 10.1007/s00134-016-4530-1. Epub 2016 Sep 16.

Physical declines occurring after hospital discharge in ARDS survivors: a 5-year longitudinal study

Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Physical declines occurring after hospital discharge in ARDS survivors: a 5-year longitudinal study

Elizabeth R Pfoh et al. Intensive Care Med. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: Survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are at high risk for new or ongoing physical declines after hospital discharge. The objective of our study was to evaluate the epidemiology of physical declines over 5-year follow-up and identify patients at risk for decline.

Methods: This multi-site prospective cohort study evaluated ARDS survivors who completed a physical status assessment at 3 or 6 months post-discharge. Three measures were evaluated: muscle strength (Medical Resource Council sumscore); exercise capacity [6-min walk test (6MWT)]; physical functioning [36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36 survey)]. Patients were defined as "declined" if a comparison of their current and prior score showed a decrease that was greater than the Reliable Change Index-or if the patient died. Risk factors [pre-ARDS baseline status, intensive care unit (ICU) illness severity, and other intensive care variables] were evaluated using longitudinal, generalized linear regression models for each measure.

Results: During the follow-up of 193 ARDS survivors (55 % male; median age 49 years), 166 (86 %) experienced decline in ≥1 physical measure (including death) and 133 (69 %) experienced a physical decline (excluding death). For all measures, age was a significant risk factor [odds ratios (OR) 1.34-1.69 per decade; p < 0.001]. Pre-ARDS comorbidity (Charlson Index) was independently associated with declines in strength and exercise capacity (OR 1.10 and 1.18, respectively; p < 0.02), and organ failure [maximum daily Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in ICU] was associated with declines in strength (OR 1.06 per 1 point of SOFA score; p = 0.02).

Conclusions: Over the follow-up period, the majority of ARDS survivors experienced a physical decline, with older age and pre-ICU comorbidity being important risk factors for this decline.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Intensive care unit; Physical function; Recovery of function.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Crit Care Med. 2011 Feb;39(2):371-9 - PubMed
    1. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2012 Aug;33(4):327-38 - PubMed
    1. Psychol Med. 2013 Dec;43(12):2657-71 - PubMed
    1. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016 Oct 1;194(7):831-844 - PubMed
    1. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016 Aug 1;194(3):299-307 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources