Risk factors for physical impairment after acute lung injury in a national, multicenter study.
BACKGROUND
Existing studies of risk factors for physical impairments in acute lung injury (ALI) survivors were potentially limited by single-center design or relatively small sample size.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate risk factors for three measures of physical impairments commonly experienced by survivors of ALI in the first year after hospitalization.


METHODS
A prospective, longitudinal study of 6- and 12-month physical outcomes (muscle strength, 6-minute-walk distance, and Short Form [SF]-36 Physical Function score) for 203 survivors of ALI enrolled from 12 hospitals participating in the ARDS Network randomized trials. Multivariable regression analyses evaluated the independent association of critical illness-related variables and intensive care interventions with impairments in each physical outcome measure, after adjusting for patient demographics, comorbidities, and baseline functional status.


RESULTS
At 6 and 12 months, respectively, mean (± SD) values for strength (presented as proportion of maximum strength score evaluated using manual muscle testing) was 92% (± 8%) and 93% (± 9%), 6-minute-walk distance (as percent-predicted) was 64% (± 22%) and 67% (± 26%), and SF-36 Physical Function score (as percent-predicted) was 61% (± 36%) and 67% (± 37%). After accounting for patient baseline status, there was significant association and statistical interaction of mean daily dose of corticosteroids and intensive care unit length of stay with impairments in physical outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients had substantial impairments, from predicted values, for 6-minute-walk distance and SF-36 Physical Function outcome measures. Minimizing corticosteroid dose and implementing existing evidence-based methods to reduce duration of intensive care unit stay and associated patient immobilization may be important interventions for improving ALI survivors' physical outcomes.
1 Outcomes After Critical Illness and Surgery Group.
Dale M
DM
Needham
Amy W
AW
Wozniak
Catherine L
CL
Hough
Peter E
PE
Morris
Victor D
VD
Dinglas
James C
JC
Jackson
Pedro A
PA
Mendez-Tellez
Carl
C
Shanholtz
E Wesley
EW
Ely
Elizabeth
E
Colantuoni
Ramona O
RO
Hopkins
D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology*; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents