Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to long-term cognitive, physical, and psychological impairments that can arise after intensive care treatment. These symptoms may begin within 24 hours of ICU admission and persist for years. Affected patients and their families (PICS-F) face significant burdens, with up to 94% of relatives impacted. Given its high prevalence and socioeconomic impact, this prospective registry study aims to identify risk factors and long-term consequences of PICS and PICS-F. The study consists of six modules, starting with data collection during ICU stays and continuing with follow-ups at various intervals post-discharge (up to five years). The primary goal is to investigate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, while secondary objectives include identifying risk factors, determining impairment severity, and exploring biological mechanisms. Standardized questionnaires and biological samples (blood) are used for data collection.
BACKGROUND Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to newly occurring or intensified cognitive, physical, and psychological long-term effects, as well as pain and socioeconomic effects resulting from intensive care treatment. Symptoms can appear as early as 24 hours after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and persist for 5-15 years after discharge. The rate of affected individuals is very high. Three months after discharge due to an illness requiring intensive care, 64% of survivors were impaired in at least one of the three functional areas, and 56% were impaired after 12 months. The hospitalization of a close relative in the ICU affects the entire family system, i.e., all people with whom the patients have a significant relationship. The effects on the family or relatives are referred to as Post-Intensive Care Syndrome-Family (PICS-F), which represents a significant burden for up to 94% of relatives. PICS and PICS-F are therefore of high socioeconomic importance. RELEVANCE Given the significant impact of PICS on patients, their families, and the socioeconomic system, gaining insights into the prevalence of risk factors and PICS criteria during ICU stay, as well as PICS and PICS-F after ICU discharge and hospital release, is highly valuable. DESIGN The study is divided into the following six modules: 1. ICU module 2. Post-ICU module 2: a) 1-3 months + 6 months, b) 1, 2, 5 years 3. Environment module 4. Psychiatry module 5. Translational module 6. Family system module (PICS-F) The participating centers take part in at least the first module, the ICU module, in which the risk factors and PICS as well as PICS-F domains are recorded during the intensive care stay. Depending on local conditions, capacity, and resources, the participating centers optionally participate in modules 2 to 6. In the individual modules, there is also the option of participating in a mode available to all centers or specialized for individual centers (e.g., functional tests that can only be performed in a PICS outpatient clinic (PICA)). For centers without PICA, follow-up observation is carried out, for example, via questionnaires. The corresponding mode of participation with and without PICA is displayed accordingly in the individual modules. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE • The primary objective of the prospective registry is to record and investigate the risk factors, diagnostic and therapeutic options for PICS and PICS-F. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES * Recording the frequency of multiple risk factors for and the manifestation of PICS and PICS-F during and after treatment in an intensive care unit. * Recording the rate of risk factors, especially the modifiable risk factors of PICS in different disease entities, such as sepsis, delirium, and other underlying diseases requiring intensive care. * Determination of cut-off values and rates of significant cognitive, physical and psychological impairments as well as pain. * Assessment of the significance for PICS between and within individual dimensions of PICS. * Estimation of incidence based on risk factors or different cut-off values for scores to define significant limitations at the cognitive, physical and psychological levels as well as chronic pain. * Determination and investigation of the influence of relevant external and internal environmental factors that contribute to the development and course of PICS/PICS-F. * Identification of molecular biological or pathophysiological processes of PICS. PROCEDURE 1. Examination using standardized questionnaires during intensive care. The aim is to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain (= PICS and PICS-F rates) while still in the intensive care unit. The patient and their relatives and friends are interviewed. 2. Follow-up examination using standardized questionnaires in the PICS outpatient clinic 1-3 and 6 months after discharge from the intensive care unit. The aim of these appointments is to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain. 3. Completion of standardized questionnaires to record cognitive, physical, and psychological functional impairments as well as pain (1, 2, and 5 years after discharge from the intensive care unit; this can be done by telephone, electronically, by mail, via telemedicine, or in PICA). 4. Blood samples for the creation of a biobank (depending on follow-up appointments at the PICS study outpatient clinic: 4-7x 27ml each; timing: during ICU (inclusion (\> 72h ICU stay) and ICU discharge), 1-3 months, 6 months and, if applicable, 1, 2, and 5 years after ICU discharge.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
5,000
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Universitätsklinikum Augsburg
Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Berlin, State of Berlin, Germany
Diagnosis of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)
Frequency of PICS diagnosis defined as the presence of at least one new or worsened impairment in one of the PICS domains (number/percentage)
Time frame: up to 5 years
Frequency of PICS sub-domains
Frequency of diagnosis of PICS-subdomains
Time frame: up to 5 years
Frailty status
Frailty status assessed by the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS; score 1-9, higher scores indicate worse frailty).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Post-Intensive Care Syndrome symptoms assessed by the PICS Questionnaire (PICSq)
PICS symptoms assessed by the PICSq (validated questionnaire 0-45 points; higher scores indicate greater impairment).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Physical function assessed by the Barthel Index
Change in activities of daily living, assessed by the Barthel Index (score 0-100; higher scores indicate better function).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Physical function assessed by the Timed Up-and-Go Test
Change in mobility, assessed by the Timed Up-and-Go(time in seconds; longer times indicate worse performance).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Physical function assessed by Handgrip Strength
Muscle strength, assessed by handgrip dynamometry (maximum grip strength in kg; higher values indicate better function).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Physical function assessed by the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
6MWT (distance walked in meters; higher values indicate better function).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Physical function assessed by the 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT)
´2MWT (distance walked in meters; higher values indicate better function).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Physical function assessed by the SPPB
Physical function, assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB, score 0-12; higher scores indicate better performance).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Nutritional status assessed by the MNA
Nutritional status, assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA, score 0-30; higher scores indicate better nutritional status).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Health-related quality of life assessed by EQ-5D-5L
Health-related quality of life, assessed by the EQ-5D-5L (index score; higher values indicate better quality of life).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Disability assessed by the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)
Disability, assessed by the WHODAS 2.0, with higher scores indicating greater disability.
Time frame: up to 5 years
Cognitive function assessed by the MiniCog
Cognitive function, assessed by the MiniCog (score 0-5; higher scores indicate better cognition).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Cognitive function assessed by the Animal Naming Test
Verbal fluency, assessed by the Animal Naming Test (number of animals named in 60 seconds; higher values indicate better cognition).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Cognitive function assessed by the RBANS
Cognition, assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS; higher scores indicate better cognition).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Cognitive function assessed by the TMT
Executive function, assessed by the Trail Making Test (TMT A and B, completion time in seconds; longer times indicate worse performance).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Depression assessed by the PHQ
Depression severity, assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ, higher scores indicate worse depression).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Anxiety assessed by the GAD
Anxiety severity, assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD, higher scores indicate worse anxiety).
Time frame: up to 5 years
PTSD symptoms assessed by the IES-R
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, assessed by the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R; higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Pain assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire
Pain severity, assessed by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (higher scores indicate worse pain).
Time frame: up to 5 years
Frequency of dysphagia
Frequency of clinically diagnosed swallowing disorder (number / percentage)
Time frame: up to 5 years
Work ability and disability days
Change in employment status and number of disability days from baseline to 5 years, assessed by self-report (more disability days indicate worse outcome).
Time frame: 5 years
Psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care utilization
Use of psychiatric or psychotherapeutic services (yes/no), assessed from baseline to 5 years.
Time frame: 5 years
Noise annoyance assessed by the 11-point numeric noise-annoyance scale
Change in noise annoyance from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the 11-point numeric scale (0-10; higher scores indicate higher annoyance).
Time frame: 5 years
Noise annoyance assessed by the 5-point verbal scale
Change in noise annoyance from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the 5-point verbal scale (1-5; higher scores indicate higher annoyance).
Time frame: 5 years
Noise sensitivity assessed by the LEF-K questionnaire
Change in noise sensitivity from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the LEF-K (higher scores indicate greater sensitivity).
Time frame: 5 years
ICU environmental exposure measured by HIAwear/Sensorbox
Change in ICU environmental exposure from baseline to 5 years, measured continuously with HIAwear/Sensorbox (parameters include noise, light, particulate matter, temperature, humidity; higher values indicate greater exposure).
Time frame: 5 years
Atmospheric environmental exposure (ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter)
Change in atmospheric exposure from baseline to 5 years, assessed by pollutant concentrations (O3, NO, NO2, NOx, CO, PM1, PM2.5, PM10; higher values indicate greater exposure).
Time frame: 5 years
Anxiety and depression in relatives assessed by the HADS
Change in anxiety and depression symptoms of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the HADS (score 0-21; higher scores indicate worse symptoms).
Time frame: 5 years
Post-traumatic stress in relatives assessed by the IES-R
Change in PTSD symptoms of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by the IES-R (higher scores indicate worse PTSD symptoms).
Time frame: 5 years
Work ability of relatives
Change in work status and disability days of relatives from baseline to 5 years, assessed by self-report (more disability days indicate worse outcome).
Time frame: 5 years
Psychiatric or psychotherapeutic care utilization by relatives
Use of psychiatric or psychotherapeutic services (yes/no), assessed in relatives from baseline to 5 years.
Time frame: 5 years
Body resistance (R)
Body resistance (R) measured by BIA (Body impedance analysis)
Time frame: up to 5 years
Body reactance (Xc)
Body reactance (Xc) measured by BIA (Body impedance analysis)
Time frame: up to 5 years
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.