Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness in Patients With COVID-19: Occurrence and Associated Factors.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to identify the occurrence and factors associated with intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness (ICUAW) in patients with COVID-19. Secondarily, we monitored the evolution of muscle strength and mobility among individuals with ICUAW and those without ICUAW and the association of these variables with length of stay, mechanical ventilation (MV), and other clinical variables. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, individuals admitted to the ICU for >72 hours with COVID-19 were evaluated for muscle strength and mobility at 3 times: when being weaned from ventilatory support, discharged from the ICU, and discharged from the hospital. Risk factors for ICUAW were monitored. RESULTS: The occurrences of ICUAW at the 3 times evaluated among the 75 patients included were 52%, 38%, and 13%. The length of the ICU stay (29.5 [IQR = 16.3-42.5] vs 11 [IQR = 6.5-16] days), the length of the hospital stay (43.5 [IQR = 22.8-55.3] vs 16 [IQR = 12.5-24] days), and time on MV (25.5 [IQR = 13.8-41.3] vs 10 [IQR = 5-22.5] days) were greater in patients with ICUAW. Muscle strength and mobility were lower at all times assessed in patients with ICUAW. Bed rest time for all patients (relative risk = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.28) and use of corticosteroids (relative risk = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.03) for those who required MV were factors independently associated with ICUAW. Muscle strength was found to have a positive correlation with mobility and a negative correlation with lengths of stay in the ICU and hospital and time on MV. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of ICUAW was high on patients' awakening in the ICU but decreased throughout hospitalization; however, strength and mobility remained compromised at hospital discharge. Bed rest time and use of corticosteroids (for those who needed MV) were factors independently associated with ICUAW in patients with COVID-19. IMPACT: Patients who had COVID-19 and developed ICUAW had longer periods of ICU stay, hospital stay, and MV. Bed rest time and use of corticosteroids (for those who required MV) were factors independently associated with ICUAW.

Mobilização do paciente crítico em ventilação mecânica: relato de caso / Mobilization of the critically ill patient in mechanical ventilation

A polineuropatia do paciente crítico (PNPC) é uma patologia relativamente comum no ambiente de terapia intensiva e ocasiona aumento do tempo de internação e de ventilação mecânica. Uma das causas relacionadas a essa patologia é a imobilização do paciente. O caso relatado é de um paciente de 18 anos, desnutrido, usuário de crack e com vírus da imunodeficiência humana e tuberculose pulmonar e intestinal. O paciente apresentou insuficiência respiratória necessitando de ventilação mecânica (VM) prolongada e PNPC associada. A fisioterapia com mobilização do paciente mesmo em uso de VM parece ter sido fundamental para a melhora da recuperação funcional associada à adequada nutrição e o tratamento das patologias apresentadas pelo paciente.

Polyneuropathy of critically ill patients, a relatively common condition in intensive care settings, increases length of hospitalization and mechanical ventilation. This disease is associated with patient immobilization. This report describes the case of an 18-year-old malnourished crack user and HIV-positive patient that had intestinal and pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient developed respiratory failure, which required prolonged mechanical ventilation, and polyneuropathy. Physical therapy with mobilization of the patient even while receiving mechanical ventilation, together with appropriate nutrition and treatment of the diseases, was instrumental in improving functional recovery.