Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
Thirst level trajectories and influencing factors in critically ill patients based on a group-based trajectory model:
Xing Shu1, Shuang Yang2, Aiping Hu3
1Department of Gynecology, Sichuan provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China.
Background:
Thirst is widely recognized as a prevalent, severe, and often under-managed symptom in critically ill patients. Despite increased recognition of its importance in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) practice, the current management status of thirst has not substantially improved. Therefore, an urgent need exists to understand the short-term dynamics and influencing factors of thirst in this population.
Objective:
This study aimed to identify distinct trajectories and predictors of trajectory subgroups in critically ill patients within the initial 24 hours of ICU admission.
Methods:
A prospective observational study was conducted between November 2024 and February 2025 at a tertiary hospital in Chengdu, China. Data were collected using a unified electronic case report form comprising three sections: general demographics, clinical characteristics, and the Critically Ill Patient's Thirst Assessment Scale. Thirst levels were assessed at five time points: upon ICU admission, and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours post-admission. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to identify distinct thirst trajectories, and unordered multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of trajectory subgroups.
Results:
A total of 209 eligible participants were included in the study. Three distinct thirst trajectories were identified: the low-level sustained group (41.8%), the moderate-level decline group (41.9%), and the high-level fluctuating group (16.3%). Key predictors associated with a higher likelihood of belonging to the moderate to high thirst trajectory groups included serum potassium and ionized calcium levels, oxygenation index, and antibiotic use.
Conclusions:
This study enhances the understanding of distinct thirst trajectories and the predictors associated with the moderate to high thirst trajectory subgroups. Early identification and stratification of thirst levels upon ICU admission are crucial for developing targeted management strategies to alleviate thirst distress in critically ill patients.
