Purpose: To compare the physical function on ICU discharge in adults who survived an ICU admission for acute lung injury (ALI) with those admitted for a critical illness other than ALI.
Materials and methods: Two groups were recruited, (i) those who survived an ICU admission for ALI and, (ii) those who survived an ICU admission for a critical illness other than ALI. Within 7 days of discharge from ICU, in all participants, measures were collected of peripheral muscle strength, balance, walking speed and functional exercise capacity.
Results: Recruitment was challenging and ceased prior to achieving the desired sample size. Participants with ALI (n = 22) and critical illness (n = 33) were of similar median age (50 vs. 57 yr, p = 0.09), sex proportion (males %, 45 vs. 58, p = 0.59) and median APACHE II score (21.5 vs. 23.0, p = 0.74). Compared with the participants with critical illness, those with ALI had lower hand grip (mean ± SD, 18 ± 9 vs. 13 ± 8 kg, p = 0.018) and shoulder flexion strength (10 ± 4 vs. 7 ± 3 kg, p = 0.047), slower 10-meter walk speed (median [IQR], 1.03 [0.78 to 1.14] vs. 0.78 [0.67 to 0.94] m/s, p = 0.039) and shorter 6-minute walk distance (265 [71 to 328] vs. 165 [53 to 220] m, p = 0.037). The Berg balance scores were similar in both groups.
Conclusions: Compared with survivors of a critical illness that is not ALI, those with ALI are likely to have greater physical impairment when measured shortly after discharge to the ward.
Keywords: acute lung injury; critical illness; exercise test; intensive care; outcome assessment (health care); survivors.