Sex, time, and disability status differences in mortality, multidimensional morbidity, and health care utilization: a secondary analysis of the Canadian RECOVER study

doi:10.1007/s00134-025-08267-4

ICU sedation, delirium & recovery

Sex, time, and disability status differences in mortality, multidimensional morbidity, and health care utilization: a secondary analysis of the Canadian RECOVER study

Intensive Care MedPublished 22 Jan 2026Secondary analysis of the Canadian Towards RECOVER study

Primary result · ICU mortalityResultHazard ratio 1.8 CI 1.1–3.1

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Authors' conclusion

Although male ICU survivors experienced significantly higher ICU mortality, females experienced significantly lower longitudinal FIM scores and more frequent and severe depression.

Study context

Population: Medical/surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients in the Canadian Towards RECOVER study
Participants: 463 patients

Comparison: Males vs females
Malesn = 278
Femalesn = 185reference
Primary endpoint: ICU mortality

Primary result

As reported in the abstract

Hazard ratio

1.8

CI 1.1–3.1

P = 0.03

Events by treatment group

Males16.2%45 of 278

Females10.8%20 of 185

Males vs Females

HR 1.8 (CI 1.1–3.1); P = 0.03

Further findings

FIM score, ICU survivors · 3 months · significantly higher in males

P = 0.005

Malemedian 117 points

Femalemedian 106 points

FIM score, ICU survivors · 6 months · significantly higher in males

P = 0.005

Malemedian 119 points

Femalemedian 111.5 points

FIM score, ICU survivors · 12 months · significantly higher in males

P = 0.003

Malemedian 121 points

Femalemedian 115 points

Outcome	← Lower odds with female ←→ Higher odds with female →	OR (CI)	P value
Depression severity, ICU survivorsModerate vs mild depression	0.050.21520	6.9 (3.5–13.7)	P < 0.0001
Depression severity, ICU survivorsSevere vs moderate depression	0.050.21520	40.9 (17.1–98.2)	P < 0.0001
	0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale)

Outcome	Male	Female	P value
BDI-II score, ICU survivors · 3 monthsSignificantly higher in females	9.0 (interval 5.3–14.8)	12.50 (interval 7.0–18.0)	P = 0.036
BDI-II score, ICU survivors · 6 monthsSignificantly higher in females	7.2 (interval 3.0–14.0)	11.8 (interval 6.0–17.8)	P = 0.009
BDI-II score, ICU survivors · 12 months	11 (interval 3.0–26.3)	10.0 (interval 4.0–19.0)	P = 0.036

Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score, ICU survivors: 391 of 398 survivors had FIM scores

Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) score, ICU survivors · 3 months

Significantly higher IES-R scores in female vs male survivors

Specialty visits, ICU survivors

Females had more rheumatology and nephrology visits; males more cardiology, endocrinology, surgical and rehabilitation visits

Original publication

Sex, time, and disability status differences in mortality, multidimensional morbidity, and health care utilization: a secondary analysis of the Canadian RECOVER study. Intensive Care Med. Published 22 January 2026. doi:10.1007/s00134-025-08267-4

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