Risk factors of ICU-acquired weakness in sepsis patients

Sepsis patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). This study aimed to analyze the risk factors of ICU-AW in sepsis patients.

This retrospective cohort study included clinical data of 149 sepsis patients hospitalized in the ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January, 2022 to December, 2024. Based on the incidence of acquired weakness (AW), patients were divided into the ICU-AW and non-ICU-AW groups. Risk factors were assessed through univariate logistic regression analysis and adjusted for odds ratio (OR) using binary logistic regression analysis. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was generated and the predictive value of each risk factor for ICU-AW occurrence was determined.

A total of 65 patients (43.6%) developed ICU-AW. Univariate analysis showed significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender, ICU length of stay, protective restraint, mechanical ventilation time, initiation time of nutritional support, nutritional support method, used sedatives and long-term bed rest > 7 days (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that gender (OR=0.060; 95% CI: 0.007-0.535) and ICU length of stay (OR=9.728; 95% CI: 3.693-25.623) were independent influencing factors of ICU-AW (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the length of ICU stay and the combined prediction had high predictive value for ICU-AW. The area under the curve (AUC) of combined prediction (0.987; 95% CI: 0.974-0.999) was higher than that of individual indicators (0.981; 95% CI: 0.965-0.997).

In the management of sepsis patients in the ICU, special attention should be paid to the risk of weakness in male patients and long-term hospitalized patients and targeted preventive measures should be taken.