ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Transitions and determinants of ICU-acquired frailty after critical illness: A multicenter cohort study using a multistate Markov model
Authors' conclusion
Frailty after critical illness is a dynamic and potentially reversible condition, with transitions shaped by sepsis-related complications, nutritional and muscular status, and patient vulnerability factors.
Study context
- Population
- ICU survivors, followed from ICU discharge to 6 months
- Exposure
- Transitions across non-frailty, frailty and death after ICU discharge
- Outcome
- Transition probabilities and intensities across non-frailty, frailty and death
- Follow-up
- 6 months
Methodological detailsmulticenter, multistate Markov model
- Multicenter
- Multistate Markov model
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
State transitions at follow-up
Transition intensity ratio
3.12
95% CI 2.22–4.38
Recovery from frailty vs Progression from non-frailty to frailty
Ratio
2.52
95% CI 0.39–16.37
Frailty to death vs Non-frailty to death
Frail
- Reversed to non-frail
- 66.1%
- Remained frail
- 25.7%
- Died
- 8.2%
Non-frail
- Remained stable
- 72.9%
- Developed frailty
- 21.2%
- Died
- 5.9%
Reversed to non-frail
Frail66.1%
Non-frail— not stated in the abstract
Remained frail
Frail25.7%
Non-frail— not stated in the abstract
Died
Frail8.2%
Non-frail5.9%
Remained stable
Frail— not stated in the abstract
Non-frail72.9%
Developed frailty
Frail— not stated in the abstract
Non-frail21.2%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Determinants of state transitions
- Sepsis-related complications significantly increased risk of frailty onset and mortality
- Higher BMI, muscle mass, handgrip strength and phase angle consistently promoted recovery and survival
- Older age, female sex, comorbidities, malnutrition and prolonged ICU or hospital stay impaired recovery
Original publication
Transitions and determinants of ICU-acquired frailty after critical illness: A multicenter cohort study using a multistate Markov model. Ann Intensive Care. Published 30 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →