The prevalence and predictors of post-intensive care syndrome following cardiac surgery

Post-intensive care syndrome has been well documented in the general critical care population, but the prevalence of post-intensive care syndrome in the cardiac surgery population remains uncertain. We sought to define the prevalence of post-intensive care syndrome and associated risk factors after adult cardiac surgery.

Data were collected on 397 consecutive adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The patients were surveyed 4 weeks after surgery using the Healthy Aging Brain Care Monitor Self-Report version between June 2022 and June 2023.

Seventy percent of patients reported symptoms consistent with mild (50%) or severe (20%) post-intensive care syndrome. Patients with severe post-intensive care syndrome score were more likely to be female (P = .04), to be White (P = .03), and to have new dialysis (P = .01). Hypoglycemia (P < .001) and high Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale score (P = .001) were also associated with severe post-intensive care syndrome. Further, a history of diabetes (P = .05), depression (P = .01), and anxiety (P = .01) were more commonly observed in patients with post-intensive care syndrome.

Our study demonstrated a significant prevalence of post-intensive care syndrome after cardiac surgery. We identified female gender, White race, hemodialysis, hypoglycemia, and higher Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale scores as factors associated with increased risk of post-intensive care syndrome.