Prevalence and incidence of post-intensive care syndrome among intensive care unit survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Akbar Zare-Kaseb, Neda Sanaie, Sogand Sarmadi
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis examined post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) among intensive care unit survivors, synthesising 34 cross-sectional and cohort studies with 6230 participants. Across studies using their own PICS definitions and assessment methods, pooled prevalence was 60.3% (95% CI: 48.5-72.1) and pooled incidence was 52.4% (95% CI: 47.6-57.2). Heterogeneity was substantial: I² was 98.67% for prevalence and 81.23% for incidence. Subgroup analyses reduced heterogeneity, with cutoff definition substantially reducing it for incidence.
Key findings
- Pooled PICS prevalence among ICU survivors was 60.3% (95% CI: 48.5-72.1).
- Pooled PICS incidence was 52.4% (95% CI: 47.6-57.2).
- Heterogeneity was high for prevalence (I² 98.67%) and incidence (I² 81.23%).
- Subgroup analyses reduced heterogeneity; cutoff definition substantially reduced heterogeneity in incidence estimates.
Why it matters
The pooled estimates indicate that physical, cognitive, or psychological impairments after intensive care are common in the populations studied. However, marked between-study heterogeneity means the overall figures may not apply uniformly across settings or definitions. The findings underscore the importance of recognising post-discharge impairment and support further work to standardise assessment and monitoring.
What to keep in mind
The estimates were highly heterogeneous, and included studies used differing PICS definitions and assessment methods. The review included cross-sectional and cohort studies, not randomised trials.