Efficacy of Multidisciplinary Team-Based Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Improving Outcomes for Patients with Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation delivered through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) model on therapeutic outcomes in individuals diagnosed with intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study conducted at The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College (Inner Mongolia, China) between January 1, 2023, and December 30, 2024, 98 patients with ICU-AW were assigned to either a control group (standard rehabilitation, n = 49) or an observation group (MDT-based rehabilitation, n = 49). Outcomes were compared using independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests (SPSS version 21.0).

Results: The observation group showed significantly shorter median hospital stay (14 vs 21 days, p < 0.01), ICU stay (8 vs 12 days, p < 0.01), and mechanical ventilation duration (4 vs 7 days, p < 0.01) compared to controls. MRC scores improved earlier in the observation group (Day 4: 38 ± 6 vs 32 ± 5, p < 0.001; Day 7: 45 ± 7 vs 39 ± 6, p < 0.001). The overall effective rate was 83.7% in the observation group versus 61.2% in the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: MDT-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation accelerates recovery, reduces healthcare resource utilization, and enhances patient satisfaction in ICU-AW. These findings support its integration into critical care pathways. Future studies should explore long-term functional outcomes and cost-effectiveness.