Post-intensive care syndrome in adult survivors of a high-complexity intensive care unit in Colombia

Abstract

Background

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) encompasses physical, cognitive, and psychological sequelae that may persist for months or years after ICU discharge, affecting survivors’ reintegration and long-term functioning. Although extensively studied in high-income countries, evidence from Latin America remains limited.

Objectives

To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of PICS in adult ICU survivors in southwestern Colombia, assessing functional, cognitive, and psychological domains using the Spanish-validated Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor (HABC-M).

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and March 2025. Fifty-seven adults (≥18 years) discharged from the ICU for at least 14 days provided informed consent. Patients with pre-existing cognitive impairment were excluded using the telephone version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-t). Data were obtained through medical record review and subsequently through structured telephone assessment for the administration of validated quantitative instruments, conducted by trained physiotherapists. Sociodemographic variables (age, sex, socioeconomic stratum, health insurance) and clinical data (admission diagnosis, APACHE II, SOFA, need and type of ventilation) were recorded. PICS was assessed using the Spanish-validated Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor (HABC-M). Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Spearman’s correlations were applied.

Results

The study included 57 patients, 29 were women (50.9%), with a mean age of 53.7 ± 17.3 years. All patients presented some degree of sequelae, with the functional domain showing the greatest severity (15.8% classified as severe). No significant associations were observed between the presence or severity of PICS and SOFA scores or the use of mechanical ventilation.

Discussion

PICS was present in all participants, with greater involvement in the functional domain and mild symptoms in the cognitive and psychological domains. The lack of associations with age, clinical severity, or mechanical ventilation may be related to sample size and clinical heterogeneity. The predominant socioeconomic context provides relevant information for interpreting the findings, although no statistical associations were identified.

Conclusions

All evaluated patients presented some degree of PICS, with greater involvement in the functional domain in a population characterized by socioeconomic vulnerability. No associations were observed with age, severity scores, or mechanical ventilation.