Extended physiotherapy after Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay: A prospective pilot study with a before and after design

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the comparison (n = 12) and intervention group (n = 27).^a

Variable	Comparison group (n = 12)	Intervention group (n = 27)	P value
Age, years, median (IQR)	73 (71–76)	71 (61–82)	.663
Sex, male/female, n (%)	7 (58.3)/5 (41.7)	19 (70.3)/8 (29.6)	.462
Smoking, yes/no, n (%)	3 (25.0)/9 (75.0)	7 (25.9)/20 (74.1)	.951
SAPS 3, median (IQR)	59 (52–66)	56 (45–71)	.620
ICU length of stay, median days (IQR)	8 (4–26)	5 (3–8)	.221
Walking aid (before hospitalization), yes/no, n (%)	1 (8.3)/11 (91.7)	8 (29.6)/19 (70.4)	.145
Diagnosis^b, n (%) Gastrointestinal Vascular Pancreatitis Multitrauma	7 (58.3) 4 (33.3) 1 (8.3) 0 (0.0)	14 (51.9) 9 (33.3) 3(11.1) 1 (3.7)	.903
Surgery, n (%) No surgery Elective surgery Emergency surgery	2 (16.7) 2 (16.7) 8 (66.7)	6 (22.2) 13 (48.1) 8 (29.6)	.080

^aIQR = interquartile range, SAPS 3 = Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3; ^b Description of diagnoses: intestinal ischemia (n = 2 vs. 0), perforated esophagus (n = 1 vs. 0) aortic aneurysm (n = 4 vs. 9), acute pancreatitis (n = 1 vs. 2), peritonitis (n = 1 vs. 4), septic shock (n = 1 vs. 0), vascular gastrointestinal disease (n = 1 vs. 2), aspiration (n = 1 vs. 1), multitrauma (n = 0 vs. 1), postoperative complications (n = 0 vs. 2), cholangitis (n = 0 vs. 1), and severe abdominal complications (n = 0 vs. 5).

Figure 1. Flow chart of study enrollment in the comparison group (a) and intervention group (b).

Table 2. Median CPAx score at ICU and hospital discharge, in total and per item, divided into comparison (n = 12) and intervention group (n = 27).^a

	Comparison group (n = 12)		Intervention group (n = 27)
Variable	Median score, ICU discharge (IQR)	Median score, hospital discharge (IQR)	Median score, ICU discharge (IQR)	Median score, hospital discharge (IQR)
Total CPAx score (0–50 p)	23 (17–25)	45 (36–46)	26 (19–32)	48 (42–50)
Respiratory function (0–5 p)	4 (4–5)	5 (5–5)	4 (4–5)	5 (5–5)
Cough	4 (4–5)	5 (5–5)	4 (3–5)	5 (5–5)
Moving within bed	3 (2–3)	5 (4–5)	3 (2–4)	5 (4–5)
Supine to sitting	2 (2–3)	4 (4–5)	3 (2–3)	5 (4–5)
Dynamic sitting	4 (3–4)	5 (5–5)	4 (3–4)	5 (5–5)
Standing balance	0 (0–3)	4 (3–5)	2 (0–3)	5 (4–5)
Sit to stand	0 (0–2)	4 (3–5)	2 (0–2)	5 (4–5)
Transferring bed to chair	0 (0–0)	4 (4–5)	0 (0–3)	5 (4–5)
Stepping	0 (0–1)	4 (3–4)	0 (0–2)	5 (4–5)
Grip strength	2 (1–5)	4 (3–5)	3 (2–5)	5 (3–5)

^aICU = Intensive care unit, IQR = interquartile range, CPAx = Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool.

Figure 2. Radar chart displaying CPAx change from ICU discharge to hospital discharge, median per item, divided into comparison (a) and intervention group (b).

Table 3. Length-of-stay in ward, readmissions to ICU, and discharge to independent living for the intervention and comparison group.^a

Variable	Comparison group (n = 12)	Intervention group (n = 27)	P value
LOS in ward, median (IQR)	16 (9–32)	9 (7–17)	.251
Readmission to ICU, n (%)	6 (50.0)	5 (18.5)	.221
Discharged to independent living, n (%)	2 (16.7)	9 (33.3)	.253

^aLOS = Length of stay, IQR = interquartile range, ICU = intensive care unit