Integrated Rehabilitation in HDU for Post-Intensive Care SyndromeLiberation in Patients With PICS
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Integrated Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), Critical Illness Recovery, Mechanical Ventilation. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- China
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Effect of Integrated Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation in a High-Dependency Unit on Outcomes of Patients With Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: A Prospective Interventional Study
Overview
Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is characterized by persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments among survivors of critical illness. Although advances in intensive care medicine have reduced mortality, a large proportion of ICU survivors experience long-term functional impairments after discharge. High-dependency units (HDUs) serve as transitional care settings between intensive care units and general wards. Many critically ill survivors who cannot directly return home are transferred to HDU for continued treatment and rehabilitation. However, evidence regarding systematic multidisciplinary rehabilitation interventions in HDU settings remains limited. This prospective single-center interventional study aims to evaluate the effects of an integrated multidisciplinary rehabilitation model implemented in the HDU on physical, cognitive, and psychological outcomes among patients with post-intensive care syndrome. All enrolled patients will receive standardized integrated medical, nursing, and rehabilitation interventions. Multidimensional functional assessments will be conducted at baseline, during hospitalization, and before discharge from the HDU.
Detailed description
Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) includes physical weakness, cognitive impairment, and psychological disorders that occur after critical illness. Previous studies have shown that 50-70% of ICU survivors develop at least one PICS-related impairment within 6-12 months after discharge.
Current interventions mainly focus on ICU-based strategies such as the ABCDEF bundle, which can improve short-term outcomes but may not adequately address long-term functional recovery. Many patients remain severely debilitated after ICU discharge and require transitional care.
The high-dependency unit (HDU) represents a potential critical window for early rehabilitation intervention. Patients in this stage often have multiple functional impairments but remain medically stable enough to participate in rehabilitation programs.
This study will enroll patients transferred from ICU to HDU who meet diagnostic criteria for PICS. Participants will receive an integrated multidisciplinary intervention including medical management, respiratory rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, nursing care, and cognitive-psychological support.
Functional assessments will be conducted at baseline, every two weeks during hospitalization, and prior to HDU discharge. The study will evaluate changes in physical, cognitive, and psychological outcomes associated with this intervention.
Interventions
- Behavioral Integrated Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation
Participants will receive a standardized multidisciplinary rehabilitation program implemented in the HDU, including: Medical management Continuous treatment of primary diseases, medication optimization, complication prevention, and gradual removal of medical devices. Respiratory rehabilitation Respiratory muscle training, airway clearance techniques, and breathing pattern training. Physical rehabilitation Progressive mobilization according to patient tolerance, including passive exercises, ac
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Physical Function (CPAx Score) [Time frame: Baseline (within 48 hours after HDU admission) and at HDU discharge，assessed up to 2 days]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥18 years
- Diagnosed with post-intensive care syndrome
- Transferred from ICU to HDU
- Available paired admission and discharge data
Exclusion criteria
- Death within 24 hours after HDU admission
- Missing primary outcome data
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
China · 1 center
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University — Beijing
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07521540 · 2026bkky-hxk-PICS