Physical outcomes of patients infected with HIV requiring intensive care unit admission for mechanical ventilation at one South African hospital: a pilot study

ABSTRACT

Patients with life-threatening illnesses in intensive care receive management that improves their chances for survival. The physical outcomes of individuals infected with HIV who survive an intensive care unit (ICU) stay are not well known. The purpose was to describe the physical outcomes of ICU survivors in a high HIV prevalent area and highlight challenges as it relates to study feasibility. A pilot study at a tertiary-care university-affiliated hospital was done. Participants were assessed at ICU and ward admission, hospital discharge, three and six months following discharge. The profile and physical function, assessed with the ICU Mobility Scale, Karnofsky Performance Status Scale and six-minute walk test, of participants was determined. The EQ-5D-3 L provides information on participants’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The pilot study consists of five patients (n = 173 screened). All were independently mobile and on antiretroviral therapy prior to hospital admission. Respiratory and peripheral muscle weakness were present with variable performance in physical function across participants. Improvement in function occurred over time but participants still had physical dysfunction at six months. Pain/physical discomfort and anxiety/depression were common complaints influencing HRQOL. ICU survivors, who are HIV-positive, present with significant physical dysfunction who require rehabilitation to reduce disability.

KEYWORDS:

• Human immunodeficiency virus
• physical function
• disability
• intensive care unit
• physiotherapy

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank those who participated in this study for their time and willingness to be assessed. Thank you to the medical and nursing staff of CMJAH for their support of this study. This work was supported by the South African Society of Physiotherapy Research Grant.

Disclosure statement

None of the authors has a conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the South African Society of Physiotherapy [Research Grant].