Respiratory failure & ventilation
Long-term physical impairments in survivors of COVID-19-associated ARDS compared with classic ARDS: A two-center study
Authors' conclusion
Both classic ARDS and CARDS survivors experienced long-term impairments in physical functioning, confirming that post-intensive care syndrome remains a major legacy of critical illness.
Study context
- Population
- Survivors of classic ARDS and COVID-19-associated ARDS after ICU discharge
- Participants
- 248 vs 48
- Exposure
- Classic ARDS vs COVID-19-associated ARDS survivors
- CARDSn = 248reference
- Classic ARDSn = 48
- Outcome
- Physical impairment (MRCss, 6MWT, handgrip dynamometry, fatigue severity score)
- Follow-up
- 6 and 12 months after ICU discharge
Methodological detailstwo-center, historical control cohort
- Two-center
- Historical control cohort
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Physical performance · 6 months
- Classic ARDS
- estimated difference (lower handgrip dynamometry (HGD)) 11.71 kg; P < 0.001
- Classic ARDS
- estimated difference (lower HGD, % of predicted) 31.9%; P < 0.001
- Classic ARDS
- estimated difference (lower 6MWT distance) 89.11 m; P < 0.001
- Classic ARDS
- estimated difference (lower 6MWT, % of predicted) 12.96%; P = 0.032
- Classic ARDS
- OR (significant fatigue, more frequent in classic ARDS) 0.35; P = 0.046
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Physical performance · 12 monthsClassic ARDS vs CARDS | estimated difference (lower HGD) 9.08 kg | P = 0.0014 |
| Physical performance · 12 monthsClassic ARDS vs CARDS | estimated difference (lower HGD, % of predicted) 25.9% | P < 0.001 |
| Improvement from 6 to 12 months within classic ARDSClassic ARDS vs CARDS | estimated difference (MRCss improvement) 2.50 | P = 0.006 |
| Improvement from 6 to 12 months within classic ARDSClassic ARDS vs CARDS | estimated difference (HGD improvement) 4.13 kg | P = 0.002 |
| Improvement from 6 to 12 months within classic ARDSClassic ARDS vs CARDS | estimated difference (HGD improvement, % of predicted) 9.45% | P = 0.005 |
Physical performance · 12 months
- No difference in 6MWT and fatigue
Improvement from 6 to 12 months within classic ARDS
- CARDS did not improve
Activities of daily living (Barthel index) · 6 months
- Most patients in both groups regained independence in ADLs
COVID-19 diagnosis as independent predictor
- Better HGD
- P < 0.0001
- Better 6MWT performance
- P = 0.001
- Lower prevalence of fatigue
- P = 0.018
Original publication
Long-term physical impairments in survivors of COVID-19-associated ARDS compared with classic ARDS: A two-center study. J Crit Care. Published 6 March 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →