Survey of sensory impairment in critically ill patients after intensive care unit discharge: An ambidirectional cohort study

• Published in: Australian critical care Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 12 - 17
• Main Authors: Imanaka, Ryota, Ouchi, Akira, Sakuramoto, Hideaki, Aikawa, Gen, Hoshino, Tetsuya, Enomoto, Yuki, Shimojo, Nobutake, Inoue, Yoshiaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Critically ill patients; Intensive care unit; Post–intensive care syndrome; Sensory impairment; Sensory impairment; Post–intensive care syndrome; Intensive care unit; Critically ill patients
• ISSN: 1036-7314; 1878-1721
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aucc.2023.09.012

Sensory impairment affects the quality of life after intensive care. However, no studies have comprehensively examined sensory impairment after intensive care. This study aimed to investigate sensory impairment in critically ill patients. This ambidirectional cohort study was conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital between April 2017 and January 2020. Patients who survived despite invasive mechanical ventilation for >48 h, with a discharge period of >6 months, participated in the study. A questionnaire was sent to consenting patients to investigate the presence or absence of sensory impairment at that time, and treatment-related data were collected from their medical records. Of 75 eligible patients, 62 responded to our survey. Twenty-seven (43.6%) patients had some sensory impairment. Nine (14.5%) patients had chronic pain after ICU discharge, 4 (6.5%) had chronic pain and visual impairment, 3 (4.8%) had visual impairment only, and 3 (4.8%) had chronic pain and taste impairment. The most common overlapping symptom was a combination of chronic pain. Critically ill patients who survived and were discharged from the ICU accounted for 43.6% of patients with complaints of sensory impairment in the chronic phase. The results of this study suggest the need for follow-up and treatment of possible sensory impairment following ICU discharge. Tweetable abstract: Many critically ill patients may have long-term sensory impairments after ICU discharge.