Associations between ICU nursing care and functional outcomes in survivors of critical COVID-19: Longitudinal study

IF 1.7 Q3 NURSING

Enfermeria Intensiva Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-02 DOI:10.1016/j.enfi.2025.500579

Raví P. Pereira RN, MSN , Vanessa F. Bonatto RN, MSN , Luísa B. Santana RN , Isis M. Severo RN, PhD , Michele D. Santarem RN, PhD , Augusto Savi PT, PhD , Cassiano Teixeira MD, PhD , Karina de O. Azzolin RN, PhD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

The evaluation of long-term functional disabilities and factors associated with decline following COVID-19-related critical illness in low- and middle-income countries remains underexplored in current literature. Addressing this gap is essential for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, to develop targeted interventions aimed at reducing the risk of functional decline after critical illness during pandemics.

Objectives

To analyze ICU nursing care factors associated with functional outcomes in survivors of critical illness due to COVID-19, six months after ICU discharge.

Methods

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted. Adults (≥18 years) discharged from the ICU after viral pneumonia, confirmed by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, with a minimum ICU stay of 72 h, were included. Follow-up was conducted via telephone interviews at one, three, and six months to collect sociodemographic data and assess functional status using the Barthel Index. Data were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations.

Results

The study included 400 participants (mean age: 52.41 ± 13.680 years; median ICU stay: 15.0 days, IQR: 8.0–26.0). Functional decline was observed in 43% of patients at one month, 28.4% at three months, and 20.4% at six months. Delirium and skin ulcers during ICU stay were modifiable factors associated with post-critical care functional disability.

Conclusions

Exploring targeted nursing interventions, such as delirium and pressure ulcer prevention, is essential to promote recovery and prevent long-term disability after critical illness.

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重症COVID-19幸存者ICU护理与功能结局的关系：纵向研究

目前的文献中，对低收入和中等收入国家covid -19相关危重疾病后长期功能残疾和衰退相关因素的评估仍未得到充分探讨。解决这一差距对于卫生保健专业人员，特别是护士，制定有针对性的干预措施，以减少大流行期间重症后功能下降的风险至关重要。目的分析COVID-19危重症患者出院后6个月ICU护理因素与功能结局的关系。方法采用前瞻性纵向研究。纳入经RT-PCR确诊为SARS-CoV-2的病毒性肺炎后出院的成人（≥18岁），至少在ICU住院72小时。随访时间为1个月、3个月和6个月，通过电话访谈收集社会人口统计数据，并使用Barthel指数评估功能状态。使用广义估计方程对数据进行分析。结果共纳入400例患者，平均年龄52.41±13.680岁，中位ICU住院时间15.0天，IQR: 8.0 ~ 26.0。43%的患者在1个月时出现功能下降，28.4%在3个月时，20.4%在6个月时。重症监护期间谵妄和皮肤溃疡是重症监护后功能障碍的可改变因素。结论探索有针对性的护理干预措施，如预防谵妄和压疮，是促进重症患者康复和预防长期残疾的必要措施。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Enfermeria Intensiva NURSING-

CiteScore

2.50

自引率

23.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： Enfermería Intensiva es el medio de comunicación por antonomasia para todos los profesionales de enfermería españoles que desarrollan su actividad profesional en las unidades de cuidados intensivos o en cualquier otro lugar donde se atiende al paciente crítico. Enfermería Intensiva publica cuatro números al año, cuyos temas son específicos para la enfermería de cuidados intensivos. Es la única publicación en español con carácter nacional y está indexada en prestigiosas bases de datos como International Nursing Index, MEDLINE, Índice de Enfermería, Cuiden, Índice Médico Español, Toxline, etc.