Self-reported symptoms experienced by intensive care unit patients: a prospective observational multicenter study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Symptom Science
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) patients frequently experience multiple distressing symptoms.
• Understanding symptom prevalence, intensity, and distress is crucial for improving patient care and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence, intensity, and distress of five key symptoms in ICU patients.
• To identify factors that predict symptom intensity during a seven-day ICU stay.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 353 ICU patients.
• Utilized the Patient Symptom Survey to assess pain, thirst, anxiousness, tiredness, and shortness of breath.
• Employed the general estimating equation (GEE) model to analyze associations between symptom intensity and predictive factors.

Main Results:

• Thirst was the most prevalent and intense symptom reported by ICU patients.
• Anxiousness caused the most distress throughout the seven-day ICU period.
• Sepsis, analgesic administration, older age, mechanical ventilation, family visits, and gender were associated with varying symptom intensities.

Conclusions:

• ICU patients face a substantial and persistent symptom burden.
• Specific patient characteristics and treatments correlate with symptom intensity, highlighting areas for targeted interventions.
• Further investigation is needed to fully elucidate these symptom-intensity associations.