ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
The association between interleukin-6 inhibitors as treatment for COVID-19 and mental health problems in ICU survivors
Main finding · Mental health problems (composite)Result — go to the resultAdjusted odds ratio 0.46 95% CI 0.22–0.93Authors' conclusion
Exposure to IL-6 inhibitors as treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients was associated with a lower prevalence of mental health problems, primarily driven by a lower prevalence of PTSD symptoms, one year after ICU admission.
Study context
- Population
- Adult ICU survivors admitted for COVID-19 (Sept 2020–Mar 2022) with one-year follow-up, two university medical centres in the Netherlandsprimary analysis
- Participants
- 170 survivors
- Exposure
- IL-6 inhibitor exposure vs no exposure
- Exposedn = 119
- Unexposedn = 51reference
- Outcome
- Composite of:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Depression symptoms (IES-6 or IES-R; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS))
- Follow-up
- One year after ICU admission
Methodological detailsprospectively collected outcome data, multicentre
- Prospectively collected outcome data
- Multicentre
Main finding
Mental health problems (composite)
Adjusted odds ratio
0.46
95% CI 0.22–0.93
Exposed vs Unexposed
aOR 0.46 (95% CI 0.22–0.93)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | aOR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| PTSD symptoms alone · 1 year after ICU admission | 0.45 (0.20–0.97) | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Anxiety symptoms alone · 1 year after ICU admission
- No significant association with IL-6 inhibitor exposure (aOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.34-1.72)
Depression symptoms alone · 1 year after ICU admission
- No significant association with IL-6 inhibitor exposure (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.33-1.50)
Original publication
The association between interleukin-6 inhibitors as treatment for COVID-19 and mental health problems in ICU survivors. J Crit Care. Published 9 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →