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
Review
. 2025 Jan;41(1):1-20.
doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2024.08.004. Epub 2024 Sep 13.

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: Physical Impairments and Function

Affiliations
Review

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: Physical Impairments and Function

Lindsey E Fresenko et al. Crit Care Clin. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Patients surviving critical illness are at risk of persistent physical impairments related to Post Intensive Care Syndrome. Physical impairments and symptoms have potential for recovery, but frequently impact quality of life, performance of activities of daily living and participation in societal roles. Patient and illness-related risk factors directly relate and may predict physical functional outcomes providing opportunity for clinicians and scientist to develop targeted intervention strategies. Clinicians and scientists should screen and assess physical impairments and symptoms early following Intensive care unit discharge with a serial approach to promote for targeted and individualized treatment.

Keywords: ICU acquired weakness; Mobility; Physical function; Post intensive care syndrome; Rehabilitation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures The authors have no disclosure to announce.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Needham DM, Davidson J, Cohen H, et al. Improving long-term outcomes after discharge from intensive care unit: report from a stakeholders’ conference. Crit Care Med 2012;40(2):502–9. - PubMed
    1. Organization WHO, International classification of functioning, disability, and health: children & youth version: ICF-CY, 2007, World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/international-classificati....
    1. Herridge MS, Tansey CM, Matte A, et al. Functional disability 5 years after acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med 2011;364(14):1293–304. - PubMed
    1. Parry SM, Knight LD, Baldwin CE, et al. Evaluating physical functioning in survivors of critical illness: development of a new continuum measure for acute care. Crit Care Med 2020;48(10):1427–35. - PubMed
    1. Mayer KP, Boustany H, Cassity EP, et al. ICU recovery clinic attendance, attrition, and patient outcomes: the impact of severity of illness, gender, and rurality. Crit Care Explor 2020;2(10):e0206. - PMC - PubMed

Supplementary concepts

LinkOut - more resources